Kurama Fire Festival

Monday was a busy festival day! In addition to Jidai Matsuri, we also attended the Kurama no Hi Matsuri in Kurama, a town to the north of Kyoto at the end of the Eizan subway line.

It is famous for being the home to gods, demons and superheroes - such as the tengu. Riding the subway there and back was an adventure. Even going several hours early and leaving before the festival was completely over, the trains were packed.

The Fire Festival is said to help lead spirits through the human realm by the light of pine torches. It is also a reenactment of visits by torchbearers that the emperor used to send from the palace to the village during Kyoto's Imperial years.

But, history aside -- it was really cool. I'm beginning to think I like festivals, fire, and especially fire festivals. In the fun fire sense it reminded me of the festival "Las Hogueras de San Juan" in Alicante, España.

Also, the children that began the torch procession were adorable. Several of them were very shy and only remembered to chant "Sai-rei! Sai-ryo!" after their parents or siblings shouted it first.

Another notable thing - the Kyoto Visitor's Guide book, a magazine that comes out monthly telling tourists about fun seasonal events, felt the need to add the following warning to their Kurama no Hi Matsuri write up: "Tourists should remember that the Fire Festival is NOT an opportunity to get loud and drunk. It is an ancient private village ritual (made public by the 2oth century) that should be respected. To be there is a privilege." Wow! What a great reputation we foreigners have here in Japan. :)