Ohara (大原, Ōhara) is a rural town nestled in the mountains of northern Kyoto, about one hour from Kyoto Station, but still technically located within Kyoto’s city limits.
Ohara is best known for Sanzenin Temple and particularly popular in mid November during the autumn leaf season, which typically occurs about one week earlier than in central Kyoto.
Today, we’re going to tell you about “Ohara-me Festival”.
Oharame Festival will be held in Ohara from the end of April to early May.
In this event, Oharame Festival shows women, wearing Oharame clothing,
explore Ohara and parade at Ohara village.
A woman in Oharame costume can receive discount and benefits at some temples and stores.
Not only young women but mother and daughter (over 4-year old) enjoy sightseeing with wearing the costume.
What’s “Oharame”?
The Oharame (“maiden of Ohara”) is a historical female peddler of firewood (kindling rather than big blocks of it) from the town of Ohara.
Oharame make their appearance in old literature about Kyoto, and in kyogen and buyo theater. They were portrayed in art, too, by the ukiyoe painter and printmaker.
Do you believe they placed the kindling on their head and walked for 20 km (12.4 mile) there and back in a day?
And more, the weight of those goods were usually 30~40 kg (66〜88 pounds) .
If the women are strong, they could carry 50 kg (110 pounds) one!
Can you do this?
Of course attendee of festival don’t need to carry a heavy kindlings.
The number of Oharame was declined so much in the early Showa period, but 800 years had passed since Kamakura period.
Oharame Festival
This event is a wearing the Oharame costume and stroll in the village.
A mother and a daughter, friends, and of course foreigners are welcomed.
If you post the photo of you in the costume on SNS, you can receive a present!
Venue:
Ohara Sightseeing Hokatsu Society
〒601 – 1242 81-2, Ohara Raigo’in cho, Sakyo ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto
Date&Time:
April 20th(Sat)-mayJune14th(Fri)
(As currently planned) 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Fee:
1,500 yen per person during the festival period; generally 2,500 yen is charged
Access:
Kyoto Bus 17 at Kyoto Station to “Ohara” bus stop
Kyoto Bus 10,16,17 at Demachi yanagi Station to “Ohara” bus stop
Kyoto Bus 10, 16-19 at Yase Hieiyamaguchi Station to “Ohara” bus stop
Oharame Historical Procession
The women in the Oharame costumes worn in three different periods parade from Jyakko-in to Shorin-in.
Any women can attend this event if they make a reservation.
A girl ( more than 4 year-old) also can join the festival, so it’s a good idea to join with a mother.
Venue:
Ohara Sightseeing Hokatsu Society
〒601 – 1242 81-2, Ohara Raigo’in cho, Sakyo ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto
Date&Time:
May 11 (Sat), 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. *Will be postponed in the event of rain.
Price:
Oharame Costume Wearing (Reservations required)
1,500 yen per person during the festival period *Reception closes at 1:00 p.m.
Access:
Kyoto Bus 17 at Kyoto Station to “Ohara” bus stop
Kyoto Bus 10,16,17 at Demachi yanagi Station to “Ohara” bus stop
Kyoto Bus 10, 16-19 at Yase Hieiyamaguchi Station to “Ohara” bus stop
Do you need more information?
You should receive such local information of Kyoto by an application “KoI APP”.
With this application, even if you don’t have Wi-Fi, you can find nearby stores and so on.
You can install the application from the following URL.
Android app「KoI Service」
iPhone app「KoI Service」
