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HOME > Kyoto Winter Special 2010 > Kyoto Special Events
Embrace new experiences
New for 2010, chat with maiko, apprentice geisha, or dine on fine cuisine unique to Kyoto. These events are only available for a limited time!
Maiko Tea PartyMaiko Tea Party
Enjoy a Japanese tea ceremony in the company of geisha and maiko, including rare photo opportunities.
Gion, Kyoto's famed entertainment district, plays host to a very special event only for visitors to Kyoto. At the Maiko Tea Party, guests can savor the ritual and traditions of the tea ceremony while in the company of maiko and geisha. Dressed in their elegant kimono, with striking white make-up and vivid red lipstick, colorful hair ornaments adorning their traditional Japanese rounded hairstyle, maiko and geisha are a living treasure of Japan's past. The ceremony is conducted in the ryurei style, where tea is enjoyed while sitting in a chair. Explanations of the tea ceremony will be provided in English, offering a fascinating opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of Japanese culture. At the end, time is set aside for photo opportunities with the maiko and geisha.
Venue:
Tea Ceremony Classroom, Yasaka Kaikan Hall, 2nd Floor
Dates:
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays (excluding national holidays) from December 2009 to February 2010
Hours:
2:30 - 5:00 p.m. (1 seating: 30 minutes)
Fee:
JPY 500
Get more informationat at the Kyoto Winter Special official site
(Links to external site)
Hanatouro
See Kyoto's streets and alleyways brought to life with a magical profusion of lights and flowers.
During Kyoto Hanatouro, the city's streets are adorned with roji andon, square-shaped paper lanterns used to light the ground, illuminating the distinctive character of Japan. Among the lanterns you will find spectacular floral displays created by professional flower arrangers. Together these decorations lend a truly transcendental appearance to the the sites of Kyoto. During Kyoto Arashiyama Hanatouro 2009 in December and Kyoto Higashiyama Hanatouro in March, the walkways around famous sites are bathed in the gentle glow of over 2,000 lanterns. A variety of events are also planned, from special viewings at temples and shrines to mini-concerts.
Get more information at the Kyoto Winter Special official site (Links to external site)
Kyoto Arashiyama Hanatouro 2009
Dates:
December 11 - 20 2009
Illumination hours:
5:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Fee:
An admission fee decided by each temple and shrine will be charged on entry.
Attendance:
Reservations are not necessary.
Kyoto Higashiyama Hanatouro 2010
Dates:
March 13 - 22 2010
Illumination hours:
6:00 - 9:30 p.m.
Fee:
An admission fee decided by each temple and shrine will be charged on entry
Attendance:
Reservations are not necessary.
Restaurant Winter Special
Kyoto cuisine, steeped in tradition, is a feast for all the senses.
Long the center of Japanese culture, culinary traditions included, Kyoto is a mecca for gourmets. It is the home of such famous Japanese cuisines as Buddhist shojin-ryori and tea ceremony-inspired kaiseki-ryori. With the cold weather heightening the sweetness of the vegetables and richness of the fish, the Restaurant Winter Special event is ideally timed for enjoying Japanese food. Carefully selected participating restaurants have dedicated themselves to preparing special menus allowing customers to savor the delicacies of Kyoto's distinctive culinary styles at moderate prices available only during this event.
Dates:
February 1 - 28 2010
Attendance:
Advance reservations at specific restaurants are necessary.
Get more information at the Kyoto Winter Special official site (Links to external site)
Special Public Viewing of Private Cultural Assets
Experience traditional culture through special public viewings of private cultural assets and events that capture the spirit of winter.
Only this winter, all areas of Kyoto are holding special public viewings of cultural assets. This event promises a rare and valuable chance to see a host of private cultural assets usually closed to the public, such as the interiors of majestic buildings considered national treasures, gardens overflowing with gentle elegance, Buddhist art showcasing delicate Japanese artistic techniques, and spectacular pictures adorning sliding doors, screens, and partitions. This year will also feature for the first time treasured works of art.
Dates:
January 9 - March 22 2010 (excluding Mondays and national holidays)
*Some temples may have a different viewing period.
Hours:
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (final admission)
*Some temples may have different viewing hours
Fee:
Adults (junior high school age and over): JPY 600,
elmentary school children: JPY 300
*Some temples may have different fees.
Get more information at the Kyoto Winter Special official site:
Special Events List (Links to external site)
See tours including special public viewing of private cultural assets
| Participating Temples |
|---|
| Higashiyama Area Jojuin, sub-temple of Kiyomizu-dera Temple Konkai Komyo-ji Temple Gozasho Hall/Reimei-den Hall, Sennyuji Temple Sanmon Gate, Chion-in Temple Sokushuin Temple, Tofuku-ji Temple Taikoan, Tofuku-ji Temple |
| Rakunan Area Reihokan Hall, Daigoji Temple Goju no To (Five-Storied Pagoda), Toji Temple Koshibo Room, Toji Temple |
| Rakusei Area Kondo Hall/Reihokan Hall, Ninnaji Temple Mibu-dera Temple Main Hall |
| Rakuchu/Rakuhoku Area Jotenkaku Museum, Shokoku-ji Temple Hokyoji Imperial Convent Jissoin Temple |
Kyoto Winter Special 2010 Main Page | Kyoto Cultural Tours | Kyoto Ryokan & Hotels | Kyoto Special Events
