Kyoto II

[khiemtran]

They do things differently, over there...


I guess it makes sense if you're going to spend a good part of your day bowing...


I was lucky enough to be in Kyoto for the Aoi Matsuri ("Hollyhock festival"). Lots of people lined the street to watch a slow parade of people, animals and carts from the Imperial palace to a pair of distant shrines. The festival has been observed on and off since the sixth century, when it was originally intended to help break a drought. The marchers are dressed in Heian era clothes and wear hollyhock leaves on their heads (I'm not sure if you can see them in the photo, this was taken on my camera phone again). I missed the very start of the procession (supposed to be lead by the Imperial Messenger on horseback), and the Saio-Dai.


Sento-kun, the mascot of the 1300th anniversary of the transfer of the imperial capital to Nara. If you had to create a mascot to represent a place famous for both deer and Buddhist tradition, what would you choose?


Detailed map at Nijojo-mae ("In Front of Nijou Castle") station. It should be almost impossible to get lost with helpful information such as this. Just don't fail to note that North is at the bottom. (Luckily there was also a giant compass rose on the floor just in front of the map, to make it even easier).

Comments

[heleninwales.livejournal.com]

After you mentioned the bowing, the trouser display made some sort of sense. Perhaps it's trying to say: "Your behind will look awesome in these trousers every time you have to bow." :)

[khiemtran.livejournal.com]

Yes, looking at the website, I think they might be extra stretchy pants and the models are supposed to emphasize how flexible they are...