Mitaraii and Omandokoro Otabisho whose doors are open only during the Gion Festival
(hidden sights)
Yoshie　Doi

The company crest engraved on the stone pagoda of Yasaka Shrine, taken on July 20, 2023

A stone pillar climbing the stairs of Yasaka Shrine from Higashioji

  During the Gion Festival in July, it is customary not to eat cucumbers in the parishioners’ ward of Yasaka Shrine. This is because the crest of Yasaka Shrine resembles a cucumber. The main enshrined deity of Yasaka Shrine is Emperor Gozu, who is said to have loved cucumbers. A cucumber with a lot of moisture leads to a rich harvest. Cucumbers originated in the foothills of the Himalayas in India and were brought to Japan via China. It makes sense that it resembles a cucumber and that cucumbers are your favorite food.

  There are two shrine crests of Yasaka Shrine. If a shrine has two crests, one is the crest of the god and the other is the crest of the shrine. The crest of Yasaka Shrine is a threesome crest, and the crest is a cucumber.

Mitaraii Well, the door of which is open only during the Gion Matsuri, taken on July 20, 2023

The doors of Omandokoro Otabisho are open only during the Gion Matsuri. 
Taken July 20, 2023

  During the Gion Matsuri period, the Shijo area is dotted with sights related to the Gion Matsuri. Mitaraii, which is usually closed, will be open from the 14th to the 24th. Normally, we can’t enter the water well, but we can receive the famous water only during this period.

  The reason why the famous water is available only during the Gion Matsuri is due to Oda Nobunaga’s order. When Nobunaga moved the Otabisho, he learned that the water of the Otabisho was famous, and the order to open the well only during the Gion Matsuri is still kept today. It’s an episode that feels a living history. Please feel free to ask because it is located at the top of Karasuma Dori Nishiki.

  There are other histories of the Gion Matsuri related to Nobunaga,The Gion Festival that would be done at five days after the Honnoji Incident was postponed to November of that year. In recent years, the Yamahoko Junko has been canceled for three years due to the corona disaster.

  In addition, at Yaosada, a restaurant down Shinmachi-Shijo, the wheels of Ofuna-hoko are stored, and while the floats are erected, they are empty, but we can see the wheels. In addition, the floats of all the floats are displayed on the wall of the store on the first floor, and the ropes used to assemble the floats and the bamboo that the floats use to turn corners are also displayed. You can enjoy it while having Kyoto cuisine in Kyomachiya.

Yaosada’s shop where the wheels of Ofuna-hoko are stored 
Taken on July 24, 2022

The rope used to turn the Ofuna-hoko at a right angle.

Displayed at Gohandokoro Yaosada (year-round display, photographed on July 22, 2023)

All the Yamahoko chimneys displayed on the first floor of Yaosada, Taken on July 22, 2023

Mikoshi Kanko Festival Karasuma-dori Bukkoji Temple in front of Omandokoro
Taken at 17:40 on July 24, 2023

  On July 24th, there was a mikoshi return festival from the evening. At the bottom of the stone steps of Yasaka Shrine, three portable shrines gather to mark the end of the Gion Matsuri. I wasn’t able to go to the site this year, but I believe that this momentum is the root of the Gion Matsuri.
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