Truly an Evening to Remember

I have been to several 'main' festivals in Kyoto and been blown away by the magnificence of the costumes, the imposing nature of the hoko, the diversity of the crowds and the accompanying mini-events in preparation for the actual day. However, the matsuri I enjoyed most was probably that which I attended with friends who live in Haibara-cho (Uda-gen). They dressed me in yukata, and I managed to find a pair of men's geta i could wear comfortably. As dusk approached, we headed for the river bank making our way past the many yattai (in true tour guide mode my friend insisted there was 'no stopping for shopping') until we reached the spot she had chosen: obaachan and ojiichan had been sent ahead to stake our claim.

 

Fortified by drinks and snacks from the cool box we had brought with us, we were seated just in time for the hanabitaikai launched from the opposite bank. The segments of the display had been sponsored by different local organisations, and were announced by Tanoy and loudly applauded by the audience. At the end there were the customary exhortations to take ones litter home and as we wended our way slowly back to the main street, we could see how well this had been done.

 

Now it was time to follow the omikoshi to the local park where we competed to run under the portable shrines and I attempted to follow the apparently simple moves of the obon dance. Just when it seemed it was time to head for home, I was handed a small towel (others had been wearing these round their necks or on their heads) and whisked off to the onsen for a relaxing bath followed by noodles and yet more to drink! Truly an evening to remember.