Saga Festival in Kyoto Arashiyama area
（嵯峨祭）
Nonomiya-jinja Shrine and Atago-jinja Shrine

野宮神社と愛宕神社
野宮神社と愛宕神社の祭礼。還幸祭5月27日の行列巡行は10:30頃～

May 20 and May 27（Main parade）

This is a joint festival for Atago Shrine and Nonomiya Shrine.
Overview : This is a festival for both Atago-jinja Shrine and Nonomiya-jinja Shrine. There is a historical record indicating that the genius haiku poet, Matsuo Basho came to watch this festival.
On the 27th, mikoshi portable shrines are lined up in the precinct of Seiryo-ji Temple.

May 20【神幸祭】

May 27 Main parade還幸祭
On the 27th the mikoshi, floats, and a child procession go through the neighborhood.
Main parade starts Arashiyama near the bridge at about 14:30
The procession departs at 10:00 and leaves Arashiyama at 14:30.

愛宕、野宮両神社の祭礼で、元禄4年、松尾芭蕉も見学したという記録があります。20日は神幸祭。清凉寺前の御旅所に神輿が並びます。27日の還幸祭には、神輿、剣鉾、稚児行列、子供神輿が嵯峨野一帯を巡行します。
御旅所出発（10時）→ 大覚寺（12時頃）→嵐山（14時30分頃）→ 御旅所（17時頃）

The 42th Kobe Matsuri Festival in Kobe
（ 神戸まつり ）
May 19 and May 20 and May 20, Main Festival

The 42th Kobe Matsuri Festival in Kobe, Hyogo Pref.,features a variety of parades and performances on the city's main streets.
Omatsuri Parade, the main parade　of the festival, starts from Flower Road near Waku-Waku Square at 12:45 pm, going through Sannomiya Chuo-dori (street) and arrives at the open space in front of Daimaru Department Store at 4:30 pm. Many more events are scheduled.

Access : The JR Kobe Line to Sannomiya Sta., the Hankyu
Kobe Line to Hankyu-Sannomiya Sta. or the
Hanshin Railway to Hanshin-Sannomiya Sta.

メインフェスティバル/20日今年で42回目を迎える神戸の一大イベント。「緑と海そして愛」をメインテーマに、「こうべで　いい夢　いい出会い」をサブテーマに開催されます。20日メインフェスティバルが三宮フラワーロードを中心に繰り広げられます。サンバや民踊、マーチングバンド、太鼓、ダンス、バトンなど個性溢れる団体がフラワーロードをにぎやかに行進するおまつりパレード、ステージイベント、マーケットイベントなど内容も多彩です。19日には市内各区の会場で様々なイベントが開催されます。

兵庫県神戸市
最寄駅：JR神戸線三ノ宮駅、阪急神戸線阪急三ノ宮駅又は阪神
三ノ宮駅下車

京都嵐山・三船祭
車折神社（くるまざきじんじゃ）

Mifune Matsuri

May 20 (Sun)　　12:00～16:00

Overview : At 14:00 on this day, 30 boats carrying imperial costumed participants move up the Oi River. This is an annual festival of Kurumazaki-jinja Shrine. It started about 1,100 years ago when Emperor Uda enjoyed boat riding in this area. In the Mifune Festival, the Imperial houseboat leads the way, carrying players chanting noh dramas and reading Chinese and Japanese poetry. Next, the Dragon Boat carries musicians playing the eerie, stately, court music, known as gagaku. The Phoenix Boat follows with several miko (shrine maidens) bearing traditional Shinto offerings. The other thirty boats feature some other art or entertainment form

Shinko Festival at Kurumazaki-jinja Shrine: 12:00
正　午　　車折神社にてお出ましの式

Procession: 13:00
午後１時　　神社より行列が出発（道中約３０分）

Boat entertainment: 14:00-15:30
午後２時頃　　嵐山の大堰川にてご船遊はじまる。（船遊は約２時間）

午後４時頃　　御上陸の後、嵐山頓宮に入御

『第15回ツアー・オブ・ジャパン 堺ステージ』開催！

The Tour of Japan is the country’s only—and Asia’s largest—national stage race and is officially recognized by the Union Cycliste International. The race in Osaka (Sakai) is the first of six stages of race and is followed by another five carried out throughout Japan.

国際自転車ロードレース｢第15回ツアー･オブ･ジャパン 堺ステージ｣が5月20日(日)開催されます。
｢ツアー･オブ･ジャパン｣は、自転車競技の国際的団体U.C.I.(国際自転車競技連合)公認の日本を代表する自転車ロードレースで、国内6都市を転戦します。
その開幕となる堺ステージには、国内外から有力選手96名が参加します。
今大会は前回に引き続き、世界遺産登録を目指す｢仁徳天皇陵古墳｣に隣接する大仙公園周回道路コースで、本場さながらの迫力と臨場感で自転車競技の素晴らしさを感じることができます。
また、"自転車のまち堺"を内外に広く発信するイベントです。

平成24年5月20日(日)　10:00～16:00(付帯イベントを含む)
場所：大仙公園内および周回道路(堺市堺区大仙中町)

競技：
①堺国際クリテリウム　11:15～12:00
②全日本実業団自転車競技連盟クリテリウム　12:05～13:25
③ツアー･オブ･ジャパン堺ステージ　13:40～14:30
※クリテリウムとは、一般交通を遮断したサーキットで行わる周回レースのことです。

AoiMaturi葵祭（あおいまつり）
KYOTO May 15

The festival will be postponed in the case of rain.
This is the annual festival of Shimogamo - jinja Shrine and Kamigamo- jinja Shrine. Its actual name is Kamo Festival. Along with the Gion Festival and the Jidai Matsuri (Festival of Ages), it is one of the three big festivals in Kyoto. Featured is a gorgeous parade in the style of the ancient Heian Court. Everything in the parade is adorned with the hollyhock leaf crest, also called "aoi" _ thus the name of the festival. The parade leaves the Kyoto Imperial Palace at 10:30 in the morning. The 700-meter-long parade passes Shimogamo - jinja Shrine and heads for Kamigamo - jinja Shrine.

The name of the festival derives from the aoi (hollyhock) leaves that are used to decorate the animals, the carriages and the people in the parade. This 700-meter long procession starts off at Kyoto Imperial Palace where over 500 people dressed in elegant traditional Heian (794-1185) costumes parade. Famous historical characters are portrayed, as well as warriors, courtiers, soldiers and musicians.
The procession slowly makes its way to Shimogamo Shrine where the Shato-no-gi, a sacred ceremony is performed. After that it continues towards Kamigamo Shrine for the final rites.

Route of the procession
Kyoto Imperial Palace ( 10:30AM ) ---> Shimogamo Shrine ( 11:40AM )
Shimogamo Shrine ( 2:20PM ) ---> Kamigamo Shrine ( 3:30PM )

[ Kyoto Imperial Palace ] Access : City Subway Karasuma-line Imadegawa Station [ Shimogamo Shrine ] Access : City Bus No.205 "Shimogamojinja-mae"
[ Kamigamo Shrine ] Access : From City Subway Karasuma-line Kitaoji then City Bus No.Kita3 to "Misonoguchi-cho" Station,
City Bus No.9 "Kamigamo-misonobashi"
City Bus No.46, 4 "Kamigamo Jinjya mae"

京都御所（出発10時30分）京都御所　　 地下鉄「丸太町」
↓
下鴨神社（到着11時40分・出発14時20分）下鴨神社　　 市バス205「下鴨神社前」
↓
上賀茂神社（到着15時30分）上賀茂神社　市バス9「上賀茂御薗橋」

Dainembutsuji Temple
大念佛寺

Manbu O-neri Hoyo Ceremony
万部おねり

May 1 ～ May 5
　
The Land of Happiness according to the Sukhavati sutra is recreated.
Disguised as Bodhisattva in costumes of gold brocade and golden masks, monks and flowers cross a makeshift bridge in the precinct to chant 10,000 sutras at the Hond Main Hall.

Designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Asset by the Osaka municipal government in 2002.

「万部おねり」とは聖聚来迎会と阿弥陀経万部会が融合された融通念佛宗総本山大念佛寺最大の伝統行事の通称名です。
聖聚来迎会は無量寿経の中の「その人、寿（いのち）が終わる時にあたって、私は極楽浄土から二十五菩薩を従えて、その人を迎えに来るであろう」という阿弥陀仏の願いを具体的に表現した儀式であり、正平十四年（一三四九）三月一五日「観音様の蓮台に乗り、阿弥陀如来のお導きに従って、生身のまま往生の本懐を遂げるまでの儀式を営んでみたい。聖聚来迎の様相を実際にこの眼で見、また世の多くの人々にも見ていただきたいものだ」と中祖法明上人自ら行者となり、臨終不退、一念往生、上品上生を遂げるまでの法明上人の堅固な意思により始まったことを起源としています。
「阿弥陀経万部会」は江戸時代第四十九世尭海上人の頃、「阿弥陀経を一万部読誦して、極楽往生と檀信徒の先祖供養」を願いとしてはじめられました。

Osaka Tenman-gu Shrine
大阪 天満宮
鎮花祭（ちんかさい）
Hanashizume- festival

Apr 24 ～ Apr 25

２４日
午後２時～　舞踊奉納(榊講)
午後４時～　武道奉納演舞(修武館)
武道の奉納
植木市・水石展

４月２５日(水)
午後１時～　平真四條流儀式庖丁
午後２時～　奉納雅楽
　　　　　　　○管絃(大阪天満宮　神職)
　　　　　　　　平調音取
　　　　　　　　「五常楽急」　

　　　　　　　○神楽(大阪天満宮　神職・巫女)
　　　　　　　　浪速神楽「式神楽第一」
　　　　　　　　　　　　「剣舞」
　　　　　　　　神楽　　「紅わらべ」
　　　　　　　　社伝神楽「珍らしな」
　　　　　　　　浪速神楽「鈴扇」

　　　　　　　○舞楽(関西雅楽松風会)
　　　　　　　　「春鶯囀(しゅんのうでん)」
　　　　　　　　「陪臚(ばいろ)」
　　　　　　　　「長慶子(ちょうげいし)」

鎮花祭（ちんかさい）「はなしづめのまつり」ともいわれ、
古代では花の季節には散る花に乗って疫病の精霊が飛散すると考えられていた。
朝廷ではこの精霊を鎮める祭儀を「花鎮めの祭り はなしづめのまつり」として奈良時代の
神祇令に規定された。大阪天満宮では古来厳粛に斎行され、25日の本殿神事をはじめ、
神楽、雅楽、舞楽、奉納や剣道薙刀の演舞、紅白試合などさまざまな催しがある。

Dedicated to the God of learning, Lord Michizane Sugawara, the shrine is fondly known by many as "Tenman no Tenjin-san", and is revered by many including students preparing for exams.
The summer's Tenjin Festival is one of Japan's 3 great festivals with a history and tradition of almost 1,000 years, and is visited by over 1 million people each year.
This‘Hanashizume-matsuri’is a very old festival.
This festival is held in Spring when the petals of the flower fall, and people are relaxing in the good weather. It is a special ceremony to prevent the spread of diseases.

Kitchen of the Nation Zakoba Morning Market

April 22, May 27

Events of food education experience corner including tuna cleaning and cutting, sushi making, bidding experience, sales booths and seafood barbecue corner (charged) in front of Osaka Municipal Wholesale Market, kitchen of Osaka. Business hours 8:00-14:00
[Seafood Barbecue Corner] (Charged, reservation required) Hours (1) 9:00-, (2) 10:50-, (3) 12:40-

Schedule April 22, May 27 (Fourth Sunday of the month)

Fee Admission Free Seafood Barbecue (Charged)

JR環状線「野田駅」下車　徒歩約10分

About 10-minute walk from JR Loop line "Noda Station <野田駅>" getting off


地下鉄千日前線「玉川駅」下車　徒歩約10分

About 10-minute walk from subway Sennichi Mae Line "Tamagawa Station <玉川駅>" getting off

大阪の台所、中央卸売市場前で、お寿司作り体験、競り体験などの食育・体験コーナーや物販ブース、海鮮バーベキューコーナー（有料）などのイベントを開催します。L

時間　8:00～14:00
10時30分〜セリ体験
11時30分〜鰹の藁焼き(鰹のタタキづくり)体験
12時30分〜お寿司づくり体験
【海鮮バーベキューコーナー】
（有料、要事前申込）
時間　①9:30～11:30　②12:00～14:00

Sojiji Temple【総持寺】
Yamakage Style Kitchen Knife Ceremony

April 18　【12:00pm~

The kitchen knife ceremony was originated when the master of the house cooked in front of his guests at the dinner in ancient times.
They say it has continued since the Muromachi era.
Remarkable knife skills by a professional cook are demonstrated.

Admission Free

包丁式
総持寺を開かれた山蔭卿は千日料理として有名で、包丁道の祖として崇められています。包丁式は毎年4月18日に行われますが、この包丁式は古来宴席に於いて、当主が来賓を前にして座敷に俎板を設え、料理して見せたことに由来します。
現在行われている包丁式の形体は室町時代からとも伝えられています。

Shitennoji Temple
四天王寺
Shoryo-e Bugaku Hoyo Festival
聖霊会舞楽大法要
（しょうりょうえぶがくだいほうよう）
Apr 22
12:30pm～16:30

Held at Shitennoji Temple on April 22, this festival is a memorial service for Shotoku Taishi, the founder fo Shitennoji Temple, to pray for the repose of his soul.
Gagaku court dance and music is performed according to ancient rituals on a stone stage set up on the Kame-no-ike pond.
The stage in front of Rokujido (the temple hall) will be decorated with fanciful ornaments to create an exotic atmosphere.
Dancers in captivating costumes－including young boys dressed as butterflies - will perform to elegant music, and the original lion dance is also featured.
An opportunity to see a special form of the performing arts and Come experience the history.
In 612, Gigaku dances were brought to Japan from Kudara,an ancient kingdom located in the Korean peninsula at that time.
Prince Shotoku, a devoted adherent of Buddhism and the founder of Shitenno-ji temple deemed this Gigaku dances to be an essential part of Buddhist ceremonies thus ordered some boys to learn the dance.
In later times Gigaku was absorbed into Bugaku, the court dances with the accompaniment of Gagaku,the court music.
Tradition has it that the ancestors of Bugaku dancers who belonged to Shitenno-ji temple in older times are the boys who were ordered to learn Gigaku by the Prince.
Therefore, Buddhist ceremonies with Bugaku dances in Shitenno-ji temple has a history of more than 1400 years.
Today, Shitenno-ji temple is one of the few temples where Buddhist ceremonies accompanied by Syomyo(Buddhist chant) and Gagaku music as well as Bugaku dances are held.
Tennoji Bugaku, Bugaku dances of Shitenno-ji temple is designated as important intangible cultural properties.

2012 Cherry Blossom Viewing in Osaka

April 17 - 23
【造幣局桜の通り抜け】Mint Museum

This year 354 trees and 129 varieties are blooming in our Cherry Blossom Lane.
They are mainly from Kyoto, Tokyo and Hokkaido. "Cherry Blossom Viewing in Osaka" is to be opened from April 17th to 23rd.

平成２４年４月１７日（火曜日）から４月２３日（月曜日）までの７日間
平日は午前１０時から午後９時まで
土曜日・日曜日は午前９時から午後９時まで

ADMISSION FREE
造幣局南門（天満橋側）から北門（桜宮橋側）への一方通行で、約560mの桜並木が楽しめます。敷地内には、ヤエザクラなど約120品種約370本の桜が植えられています。

Osaka Tenmangu Shrine
大阪天満宮

Needle Festival
February 8
An event to thank for a Needle.
It stings a needle and the thorn which became old broken in big konnyaku

大阪天満宮　お針まつり
2月8日
神事は10:00～10:30頃、催し物は10:30～12:00頃
境内の吉備社で神事が行われた後、大阪和服裁縫協同組合の主催で、はりにかんしゃし労をねぎらう行事が行われます。参拝客は、大きなこんにゃくに折れた針や古くなった針を刺します（参加無料）。物品の販売やぜんざいなどの振る舞い（なくなり次第終了・志納金要）もあります。

神事/10:00～10:30頃、催し物/10:30～12:00頃

Although Tenjin shrines are all over the country, Osaka Temmangu is one of the most famous, along with Kitano Temmangu Shrine in Kyoto and Dazaifu Temmangu Shrine in Fukuoka. It is dedicated principally to Sugawara-no Michizane, but Saruta-no Hiko-no-mikoto and others are honored. Daishogun-sha, an affiliated shrine inside the shrine compound, was believed to be the first shrine to be established for the protection of Nagaratoyosakinomiya Palace. In 949, a shrine hall was constructed on Emperor Murakami's command to comfort the troubled spirits of Michizane. It was destroyed by fire several times, and the current main hall and the entrance gate were built in 1845. It has been fondly called Tenjin-san in Temma. Tenjin Matsuri is one of the three great festivals of Japan. This is an excellent boating event, featuring beautiful dolls believed to be created in around 1690. A total of 14 dolls are preserved as ethnological materials of Osaka Prefecture.

Ohatsu Tenjin Shrine

Date: February 3rd

Built more than 1100 years ago, the shrine has been appreciated by many locals. The original name of the shrine, Tsuyu-tenjinsha is said to be derived from a word, "tsuyu" (dew) used to describe tears in the poem written by Sugawarano Michizane. In 1703, young lovers who were not destined to be together took their own lives in the shrine's forest. The tragedy inspired Chikamatsu Monzaemon to dramatize the incident and to write the famous love story, "Sonezaki Shinju." The pureness of love moved audiences to tears and the play became a sensation. The main character, Ohatsu especially left a vivid impression to many, and the shrine began to be commonly called "Ohatsu-Tenjinsha" eventually. Ever since then, the shrine has been known as the god of love and brought many praying for a good match.

2/3 16:00～19:00
鬼が近隣を巡り境内に帰る｢豆まき行事｣が行われる。その後は山伏による護摩木の｢お火焚き｣神事など、節分祭の諸行事も開催。16:30～は｢うどん｣｢ぜんざい｣｢お神酒｣のふるまいを18:00頃まで行う予定。

KOBE Nagata Shrine
According to Nihon Shoki, Nagata Shrine was founded by the Empress Jingū at the beginning of the 3rd century CE along with Hirota Shrine, dedicated to Amaterasu, Sumiyoshi Taisha and Ikuta Shrine, dedicated to the kami Wakahirume.

室町期より執行されている追儺式神事は、神の使いを務める七匹の鬼役が、前日より井戸水を何回もかぶり練習を重ね厳重な精進潔斎し、当日早朝には須磨の海岸で身を清めた上奉仕される。
神の名代としての鬼は、松明（麦藁で作ったたいまつ）の炎で種々の災を焼き尽くし、太刀で寄り来る不吉を切り捨て、天地を祓い国土を清め、一年の無病息災を願い、再び巡り来る一陽来復の立春を喜び祝う。最後の見せ場の餅割行事が圧巻。
　 尚、ミニサイズのたいまつと餅花を災難よけに授かる習わしがある。
Feb 3 1:00Pm ～ 2月3日　午後１時　節分祭

Feb 3 2:00Pm ～ 6:00Pm
午後２時～６時ごろ　越しきついな式神事（検視定住用無形民俗文化財）
Tsuina Ceremony
Tsuina Ceremony at Nagata Shrine February 3, 2:00Pm to 6:30 Pm special stage.

Tsuina, also known as Oniyarai or Onioi, is an annual event that began during the reign of Emperor Monmu (A.D 697-708) and was celebrated at the Imperial Court, shrines, temples, and in homes on the last day of the year, It somewhat resembles the bean-scattering ceremony celebrated nowadays by families. Tsuina is now held on Setsubun (the last day of winter by the old calendar) to celebrate the start of spring on the following day. On the day of the ceremony, seven ogres named lchiban Taro Ogre, Red Ogre, Hag Ogre, Ho-osuke Ogre, Blue Ogre, Mochi Ogre, and Shirikujiri Ogre, five boys (aged 10 or so) as sword-bearers, and about a dozen stage managers take part in this traditional divine ceremony.

中山寺　星祭節分会

Feb 3 13:00～、　15:00～

Nakayama-dera (中山寺 Nakayama-dera) is a Buddhist temple, in Takarazuka, Hyōgo, Japan.
The ‘engi’, or the official history of the temple, recorded that the temple was founded by Prince Shotoku, in the 6th century. It is one of the most popular temples in the region. Today’s buildings of this temple were mainnly built by Toyotomi Hideyori in the 17th century. Hideyori is a son of Toyotomi Hideyoshi who unified Japan in the 16th century.
古くから伝わる追儺式を宝塚歌劇団が現代風にアレンジ。緑・赤・黄の邪鬼が観音様に諭され、福・禄・寿の善神に変身するまでを描いた音楽ショーが披露されます。招福豆まき式は午後2回開催。年の変わり目の節目に、その年の当たり星をまつって、悪い年は悪事災難を免れるように、良い年は一層善くなるように祈祷する「節分開運星祭（星祭特別祈祷）」が行われ、申込者には御札が授けられます。