iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

🐸😼FROLICKING ANIMALS & AN ANCIENT TEA FIELD🍵🌿 The Chōjū-jinbutsu-giga (鳥獣人物戯画), a set of four scrolls depicting anthropomorphic animals, is considered by many -though it features no words- to be the earliest form of manga (漫画) in Japan. #Kyoto #Japan #京都 #folklore

Scenes from the 'Choju-jinbutsu-giga' (鳥獣人物戯画), a set of four scrolls depicting anthropomorphic animals.

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

⛩️THE FROGS OF FUSHIMI🐸 Fushimi Inari (伏見稲荷大社) may be famed for its kitsune (狐 'foxes'), guardians of the god Inari Ōkami (稲荷大神), but there is another animal familiar hiding amongst the tens of thousands of vermillion gates... ...the humble frog. #Japan #Kyoto #京都 #伏見稲荷 #蛙

Shrine to Suehiro Okami (末廣大神) at Fushimi Inari. A pair of frog guardians flank the gate.

A frog guardian at the shrine to Suehiro Okami (末廣大神) in Fushimi Inari.

Fushimi Inari is famed for its thousands of vermilion torii gates.

Plinth beneath the frog statue at Suehiro Okami's shrine depicting a pair of mandarin ducks.

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

🐒🧵🙏KUKURIZARU🙈🙉🙊 When walking through the neighbourhoods that fan down from Kiyomizu-dera to Gion, you may notice some oddly shaped talismans hung outside homes and businesses. Kukurizaru (くくり猿) are small balls of cloth, most commonly red in colour. #Kyoto #くくり猿

Statues of the 3 Wise Monkeys at Koshin-do.

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

👵RESPECT-FOR-THE-AGED DAY👴 Today is Keirō-no-hi (敬老の日) in Japan🎊 Traditionally held on September 15th, in 2003 the national holiday was changed to the 3rd Monday in September. Commemorative silver saké cups are given by the government to those who have turned 100. #Japan #敬老の日 #respectfortheagedday

Celebrating 'Keiro-no-hi' (敬老の日) with Itotatsu's 'monaka bears', this pair iced to look like an 'elderly' couple🧸🥰
Inside the bear shaped wafers is a bean paste mixed with Ikkyu-ji natto (一休寺納豆), giving the sweets a slightly salty flavour👴👵

Paired with the monaka bears is a matcha in a beautiful bowl featuring mandarin ducks. The motif is an auspicious one as it is believed the ducks mate for life, and so it symbolises enduring love and marital harmony.

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

🫸THE LEANING TOWER OF KYŌTO🫷 Looming over the rooftops behind our Flower Teahouse and kimono studio is one of Kyōto's most iconic symbols...the 46m tall Yasaka-no-tō (八坂の塔). The pagoda, last rebuilt in 1440, is all that remains of Hōkan-ji, considered by some to be the city's oldest temple.

Atsuko-san enjoys tea at Seiryu Hotel (Yasaka Pagoda can be seen behind).

Crepe myrtle bloom, with Yasaka Pagoda in the background.

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

🔥🛎️GONG GOODIES🥞👍 Kyōto has many iconic sweets, but one of my favourites is Sasaya Iori's (笹屋伊織) dorayaki. Some of you may be aware of dorayaki from the anime Doraemon, but Sasaya's is something quite different. Both sweets are named after a gong (銅鑼 'dora'). #どら焼き

Sasaya Iori's dorayaki (a long strip of pancake rolled around sweet bean jam and then cut into slices).

A more typical dorayaki...very similar to hotcakes sandwiching bean paste (this one has a full moon and autumn grass branding).

A more typical dorayaki...very similar to hotcakes sandwiching bean paste (this one is branded with the face of a cat, the pancake pinched to make ears).

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

🪻🌸A FEAST OF FLOWERS🌼🌷 Mirroring the '7 Herbs of Spring' (七草の節句), consumed for good health in January, come the '7 Flowers of Autumn' (秋の七草/秋の七種). These plants are mostly a feast for the eyes, but also prove inspiration for Kyōto's confectioners🙌🤤✨ #wagashi #Kyoto #秋の七草

Chrysanthemums, perhaps because they have their very own festival in September, are not counted amongst the '7 Flowers of Autumn'.

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

🌕🐇BEFORE THE SWALLOWS LEAVE🌾🌰 In the traditional calendar September 2nd–7th is known as 'kokumono sunawachi minoru' (禾乃登 'rice ripens'). This bountiful season is marked by a rich variety of sweets inspired by sunsets, the arrival of harvest time, and the '7 Flowers of Autumn'. #wagashi #和菓子 #Japan

A pink and green kinton mimicking a bush clover in bloom.

A sunset inspired sweet with layers of pink, blue and green (a sky deepening to sunset over a hilly landscape).

A beautiful yellow ball of jelly, in time to celebrate the autumn full moon.

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

🤕💀PILGRIMAGE OF DEATH🪦🙏 There are many pilgrimages in Kyōto...most are for the living, but one is for the dead. Revived a few decades ago, it remains fairly unknown, but for centuries was an important means to pray loved ones and friends to a better afterlife📿 #folklore #Kyoto #京都

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

🐘🐓🦀FAMILIARS AND FORTUNES 2🐏🐈‍⬛🦎 My ongoing quest to find weird and wonderful omikuji holders from around Japan🗺️🔍👀😅 Omikuji are folded strips of paper that are picked blindly. Each 'sacred lot' is printed with a random fortune (from 'great blessing' to 'great curse'). #Kyoto #omikuji #おみくじ

Male and female kitsune votive statues wearing kimono at Araki-jinja.

Omikuji holder in the shape of Enma, the 'King of Hell'.

A frog shaped omikuji holder sits beside a small fish bowl.

An omikuji holder in the shape of the 3-legged Yatagarasu.

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

🙏THE MONEY SHRINE💸 For those of you worrying about money (understandable given the constant creeping inflation), there's a shrine in Kyōto that promises some divine help... ...Mikane-jinja (御金神社), the 'Money Shrine'. On certain days of the month you will need to queue to get close! #Kyoto #Japan

The distinctive gold gate (torii) of Mikane-jinja.

Nao-san frolics amongst golden ginkgo leaves.

Mikane-jinja's votive tablets and omamori charms are in the shape of ginkgo leaves (considered lucky as the leaves turn bright gold in autumn).

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Despite what my body is telling me, we are now in a micro-season called 'Manageable Heat' (処暑 'Shosho'). From tomorrow the traditional calendar promises us that 'heat starts to die down' (天地始粛 'tenchi hajimete samushi' - August 28th to September 1st)...let's see🤔 #Kyoto #microseasons #処暑 #summer

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

📿TEMPLE OF TEAHOUSES🍵 Ryōgen-in's (龍源院) 'Tōtekiko' (東滴壺) is considered by many to be the smallest rock garden in Japan. Designed in 1958 by Nabeshima Gakushō (鍋島岳生), it was inspired by the zen saying "the harder a stone is thrown in, the bigger the ripples". #Kyoto

Ryogen-in's 'Tōtekiko' is considered by many to be the smallest rock garden in Japan.

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

🪻SUMMER BLUES🎨 Despite what the humidity may be telling us outside, the traditional calendar promises that we are moving into a season called 'shosho' (処暑 'manageable heat' August 23rd-September 7th). From now until autumn the delicate Asiatic dayflower (ツユクサ) begins to bloom.

Close up of the vibrant blue Asiatic dayflower.

Kagizen Yoshifusa's (鍵善良房) 'aki-no-sora' (秋の空) is a wave-like sweep of light-blue rakugan (落雁) and yokan (羊羹) over white bean paste, symbolising the clear skies in early fall.

Toraya's (とらや) 'kokage-no-mizu' (木陰の水 'water in the shade').
The refreshing confection combines 2 jellies: the glittering blue water is made with 'kohaku-kan' (琥珀羹), and the soft white bottom uses 'domyoji-kan' (道明寺羹).

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

🦋📜MURASAKI SHIKIBU'S HOME✍️🪻 Although considered an autumn flower, kikyō (桔梗 'Japanese bellflowers') begin appearing around this time of year. Rozan-ji's "Genji-no-tei" (源氏庭), named in honour of Murasaki Shikibu, is one of the most popular places to see the flowers. #京都 #桔梗 #源氏庭

Kikyo (Japanese bellflower) inspired sweets begin appearing in late summer. This delicate purple nerikiri is crafted into a stylized bellflower shape.

'Genji-no-tei', the main garden of Rozan-ji, is modeled on 'The Tale of Genji' scrolls, which often feature swirling cloud decorations.

Kikyo inspired sweet from Oimatsu. The delicate purple mochi exterior is branded with a bellflower design.

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 05/09/2025

🙊THE MONKEY'S SLIDE🛝 At first glance the teahouse garden appears to be made up of mostly moss, pine and camellia...but if you look more closely the borders are packed thick with dozens of varieties of plants. One of the most beautiful at this time of year is the "Monkey's Slide". #Japan #百日紅

Crepe myrtle blooms close to Yasaka Pagoda.

A crepe myrtle inspired kinton (the pink balls of gathered dough representing the flowers).

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Grab your eggplants. It's that most wonderful time of year again!🔥👻🙏👋 #Kyoto #大文字 #Daimonji #gozannookuribi #五山送り火 #🍆 #eggplant

Looking down Imadegawa Street to Daimonji.

Preparing my eggplant for the lighting of Daimonji.

My sliced eggplant, with a hole in the middle through which to view Daimonji.

Viewing Daimonji through an eggplant is said to have curative benefits for the eyes (and good luck in general).

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 14/08/2025

🥒AN UNUSUAL FORM OF TRANSPORTATION🍆 Invited by bells and flames, the spirits of the dead are currently holidaying in this world. But how do ancestral spirits travel between realms? Probably not how you imagine😂... 🥒 🐎 (arriving by 'spirit horse' 精霊馬) 🍆 🐂 (returning via 'spirit ox' 精霊牛) #Obon

A 'cucumber horse' and 'eggplant ox'.

Image thanks - https://ameblo.jp/aoba-tokosya/

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

🍑A LUCKY FRUIT🍑 Barely a day goes by without another holiday to promote or sell some item or other. White peaches (now in season) are celebrated from August 8th-10th because...you guessed it...wordplay. 8 = 'ha' (八) 9 = 'ku' (九) 10 = 'tō' (十) White peach = 'hakutō' (白桃).

A gorgeous peach kakigori (thick peach syrup and peach slices layered over the top).

A sweet modeled into the shape of a peach bell!

A light wafer biscuit iced with intricate peach blossoms.

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

🌄MOUNTAIN DAY🙌 dawn comes quick to their crowns... Higashi Mountains 明安き天窓はづれや東山 -小林一茶, 1814. Today is 'Yama-no-hi' (山の日 'Mountain Day')! The day is intended to provide "opportunities to get familiar with mountains and appreciate their blessings..."

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

🙏🔔THE DEAD RETURN🪦👋 For a few days in August, with the simple ringing of a temple bell, our ancestors are once again invited back to the world of the living for a brief vacation. It is a happy reunion of remembrance, lanterns, dance and (in Kyōto) giant mountain bonfires.

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

A watch frozen forever at 8:15am, the moment an atomic bomb exploded over Hiroshima on Monday August 6th 1945. #Hiroshima #August6th #HiroshimaPeaceMemorialMuseum #広島 #HiroshimaDay

A watch frozen at 8:15am, the moment the atomic bomb detonated above Hiroshima, preserved at the Hiroshima Peace Museum.

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

🪙THE GOLDEN PAVILION🔥 True beauty is something that attacks, overpowers, robs, and finally destroys. -Mishima Yukio (三島由紀夫). In 1950, almost bald of gold, and having survived the Ōnin War, Kinkaku-ji was burnt to the ground by Hayashi Yōken, one of its own novice monks.

Kinkaku-ji, the 'Golden Pavilion' of Rokuon-ji.

A closer look at the phoenix atop the Golden Pavilion.

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Another day, another celebration. August 5th is 'Box Day' (ハコの日)!🤔 Established by the Tōkyō Paperware Industry Association (東京紙器工業組合) in 1991, as you might expect the date is a play on words. ハコ 'hako' = box 📦ハ = 8 📦コ = 5 #ハコの日 #boxday #Japan #blackcats

Percy the black cat enjoys relaxing in a cardboard box.

Hogarth the black cat enjoys relaxing in a cardboard box.

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Happy "Owl Day"!🦉🙌 the horned owl's opinion- every day is long 木兎は不断日永と思ふ哉 -Kobayashi Issa (小林一茶), 1807. Trans. David Lanoue. #OwlAwarenessDay #InternationalOwlAwarenessDay #owls #フクロウ #Japan #ukiyoe #浮世絵

Ink painting of a wise old owl.

Image thanks🙇‍♂️ - https://ukiyo-e.org and https://harashobo.com

Painting of a sleeping owl on a branch under the full moon.

Image thanks🙇‍♂️ - https://ukiyo-e.org and https://harashobo.com

Painting of birds chirping at a regal looking owl.

Image thanks🙇‍♂️ - https://ukiyo-e.org and https://harashobo.com

Painting of a rather shocked looking owl.

Image thanks🙇‍♂️ - https://ukiyo-e.org and https://harashobo.com

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

🍡MOREISH MITARASHI😋 Today is the beginning of a three-day period celebrating mitarashi dango (みたらし団子)!🎉 Actually, this happens every month from the 3rd-5th　because... 3= 'MI' (み) 4= 'taraSHI' (たらし) 5= 'danGO' (だんご) Tenuous wordplay? Yes. Fun? Also, yes. #Japan

Mitarashi dango are typically skewered rice balls, grilled and served with a syrup made from soy sauce and sugar.

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

🌞GREATER HEAT🔥 Summer in the city, and there's only one good way to start each day...with an iced coffee and a bite of something sweet🤔 Or you could always combine the two🙌 The all too adorable 'reikō' (冷コー) from Nijō Wakasaya (二條若狭屋)☕️ #二條若狭屋

Iced coffee shaped jelly from Nijo Wakasaya.

Nao-san relaxing at Omuro-tei, where the summer greens are reflected in the polished tables.

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

🐍🥵DOGS DAYS & EELS😋⛱️ The hairdryer heat, the constant whir of insects, the lack of shade...everything at this time of year feels exhausting. The dog days of summer are here. today too, heat and tomorrow, more heat? house in the trees けふもけふも翌もあついか薮の家 -Kobayashi Issa.

Lotus flowers bloom at To-ji (the pagoda rises in the background).

An iced matcha latte with ubatama (red bean paste is mixed with dark sugar, rolled into balls and covered with agar jelly).

Crepe myrtle blooms on Sannenzaka close to Yasaka Pagoda.

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

🍉WATERMELON DAY🥤 Kameya Yoshinaga's (亀屋良長) adorable 'hito-suzumi' (ひと涼み 'cooling off') are the perfect treat for July 27th's 'Suika-no-hi' (スイカの日)!🥳🍉🙌 #wagashi #和菓子 #suikanohi #スイカの日 #watermelonday #Japan #Kyoto #京都

Kameya Yoshinaga's beautiful folded mochi sweet, 'hito-suzumi', is shaped and coloured like a watermelon slice.

Woodblock print of a man jumping from a bridge onto a boat of watermelons (to the shock of the boatsman).

Image thanks - https://ja.ukiyo-e.org

Woodblock print of a fruit vendor (visible are slices of watermelon).

Image thanks - https://ja.ukiyo-e.org

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 01/09/2025

🐗🔥PIG PROTECTION🌪️🦟 One of the great joys of summer is taking out the sliding doors and blurring the line between garden and tearoom, relishing the morning cool before it gets too hot. But... Mosquitoes also love the garden. So what to do?🤔 #Kyoto #京都 #蚊取り線香 #Japan

Atsuko-san throws open the doors to the teahouse garden to enjoy a quiet matcha moment.

During the summer we mostly keep the doors to the garden closed beside the tea room. Not only does this keep the cool air inside, it also traps the mosquitoes outside.

Atsuko-san poses for a photographer in the teahouse garden.

The gardens have tsukubai (purification basins), but we only use these during occasional tea gatherings. Each morning we change the water to keep them clean, and to prevent mosquitoes breeding!

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

👅MELT-IN-THE-MOUTH MORSELS💦 Wibbly-wobbly warabimochi (わらび餅)☺️ A popular summer snack in Kansai, the melt-in-your-mouth warabimochi is a jelly-like sweet traditionally made from bracken starch (わらび粉 'warabiko'). It's covered with sweet, toasted soybean flour (黄粉).

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

🪷THE TEMPLE OF LOTUSES📿 A remarkable transformation takes place at Hōkongō-in (法金剛院) shortly before the Gion Festival. The temple's muddy, rather nondescript pond suddenly bursts into life, and for a short time it is one of the most famous lotus viewing spots in Kyōto. #Kyoto #京都

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

🏮🦊FOXLIGHT🦊🏮 Typically on the first Sunday (or national holiday) after 'doyō ushi-no-hi' (土用丑の日 'midsummer day of the ox'), Fushimi Inari (伏見稲荷大社) celebrates its biggest festival. Over 8000 lanterns are illuminated on the eve of 'Motomiya-sai' (本宮祭). #Kyoto

Fushimi Inari lit up with thousands of red lanterns for the Motomiya-sai (festival).

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

My morning cycle to work is now accompanied by the deafening whirr of cicadas...very much the sound of summer in Japan. #cicada #セミ #Kyoto

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

🌊🦀DAY OF THE SEA🏖️⛵️ Happy 'Marine Day'!😅 Umi-no-hi (海の日) was first celebrated in 1996 as a day of gratitude for the blessings of the oceans. As an island nation, the seas have played an important role in the development of Japan. #海の日 #MarineDay #Japan #Kyoto #uminohi

Nao-san, in yukata, enjoys a cruise towards Akashi Kaikyo Bridge.

Tea time in one of the boat houses at Ine.

Matcha on the cliffs above Wakayama Bay.

Peering at Amanohashidate through your legs is said to create the illusion of a bridge to heaven.

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

🥁THE 2 GREAT PARADES😅 Adorned with precious artwork, tapestries, ornaments, textiles and dolls, Gion Matsuri’s 'yamaboko' (山鉾) are literal treasure boxes. Now known as 'moving museums', how did the transformation from simple halberds to lavishly decorated floats occur? #Kyoto

Nao-san watches a musical performance on the Naginata-hoko float.

The Gion Matsuri floats covered in illuminated lanterns for yoiyama, an evening of celebration and feasting before the first of the festival parades.

A musician dressed in the unique yukata of the Shijokasa-boko float (he has a protective chimaki tucked into the obi).

Before they are paraded the floats are covered in lanterns and illuminated in the evenings before the parade day(s).

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 15/07/2025

🥁THE FLOATS OF THE GION MATSURI (PART 2)👆 18) ARARE TENJIN-YAMA (霰天神山)🔥 Arare Tenjin-yama, the 'Divine Hail Float', is also known as Hiyoke Tenjin-yama (火除天神山), the 'Protection Against Fire Float'. It celebrates the life-saving rain that extinguished a terrible fire (some time between 1504-21).

Arare Tenjin-yama float.

Photo thanks - http://kyotomoyou.jp/

An old illustration showing the Arare Tenjin-yama float.

Image thanks - https://www.arc.ritsumei.ac.jp/e/ijac/

Treasures of the Arare Tenjin-yama float.

Photo thanks - https://wakasa15thfd.wordpress.com/

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 04/07/2025

🥁THE FLOATS OF THE GION MATSURI🙌 July, consumed as it is with the Gion Matsuri, always passes in the blink of an eye, so I thought I'd compile a list of the 34 individual floats ('yamaboko' 山鉾) that you'll be able to see at this month's festival. #GionMatsuri #祇園祭 #Kyoto

On the three days and evenings before the festival parades it is possible to get up close to the floats to see their decorations. During this time each of the floats is adorned with lanterns.

The Gion Matsuri also influences the tea room. This summer tea bowl features the Naginata-hoko float.

A sweet featuring one of the two festival crests, and a small model of the Naginata-hoko float.

Construction begins on one of the larger floats. Rather than nails, each of the floats is put together like a jigsaw and then tightly bound in rope (with special types of practical and decorative knots).

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

✨CHIMAKI CHARMS🙏 One of the most important tasks in July for many households and businesses in Kyōto is the refreshing of the 'chimaki' (茅巻き). Sold exclusively during the Gion Matsuri, these broom-like charms hang by doorways to prevent misfortune entering the home or office.

Display of chimaki at Daimaru Department Store.

Suzuka-yama's chimaki comes with a votive tablet featuring a picture of the float.

Kakkyo-yama's chimaki features a gold coin design.

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

👘FESTIVAL, BUT MAKE IT FASHION✨ The Gion Matsuri's float musicians, 'hikiko' (曳き子 - float pullers), 'ondotori' (音頭取り - cheerleaders), and even those selling float goods, dress in clothing unique to the 34 'yamaboko'. NHK Kyōto exhibited some of the festival's beautiful yukata.

A selection of unique yukata worn by participants in the Gion Matsuri. Each is themed to the hoko or yama they are attached to.

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

🪢IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME🪵 Between July 10 and 14th the floats that will participate in the Gion Matsuri's first parade (the 'Saki Matsuri' 先祭り - July 17th) are constructed. The parts are laid out, slotted together, and then meticulously bound in rope. #Kyoto #祇園祭

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

🎨🖼️THE MOVING MUSEUMS🪘🙌 Thirty four floats currently participate in the Gion Matsuri’s (祇園祭) two parades. This number was far higher in the past, but conflagrations and economic considerations have seen many of the yamahoko disappear over the centuries. #GionMatsuri #祇園祭

A hoko is paraded before the dragon-headed Ofune-hoko float.

A tiny chigo (sacred page) doll on a model of the Naginata-hoko float.

Gorgeous brocade tapestries decorating the Taka-yama float.

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

🌟🍬SPOONFULS OF SUGAR😋🎋 Ryokujuan Shimizu (緑寿庵清水) has been making konpeitō (金平糖) since 1847, and is the only store still specializing in this hard, star-like, candy. It is said that to fully train one of their artisans takes at least 20 years!😮 #緑寿庵清水 #konpeito

Ryokujuan Shimizu's colourful konpeito (candy) comes in a fantastic display pack for Tanabata. The konpeito are hung to mimic tanzaku (on which wishes are written).

Ryokujuan Shimizu's colourful konpeito (candy).

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

🥒THE MONTH WITHOUT CUCUMBERS🚫 The crest of Yasaka-jinja (八坂神社), home to the Gion Matsuri, resembles the cross-section of a cucumber, and thus the fruit has gained sacred status during the festival. One of the strangest customs in Kyōto is the giving up of cucumbers for July!

Nao-san models with a Gion Matsuri lantern inspired obi, and a fan emblazoned with the 2 crests of the festival.

For tea time dry sugar sweets in the shape of fans iced with Gion Matsuri crests, and wafers with an abstract lantern display design.

In July Oimatsu's delicious domoyoji sweets come branded with a Gion Matsuri crest.

During the yoiyama afternoons and evenings before the Gion Matsuri parade the festival floats are adorned with lanterns.

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

👻THE ORIGINS OF THE GION MATSURI🙏 Simply put = 👹😱😫🤒🤮 🙏 👹➡️😇 💪🥳 In looking at the origins of the Gion Matsuri (祇園祭) we must start a few years prior to the plague of 869, to the first goryō-e (御霊会). Disease in those days was attributed to either gods or spirits.

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

🌟THE STAR FESTIVAL🎋 chirr-chirr! insects also work their looms... stars of Tanabata しやんしやんと虫もはたおりて星迎 -Kobayashi Issa (小林一茶). Tanabata (七夕), also known as 'Hoshi-matsuri' (星祭り the 'Star Festival'), celebrates the reunion of Orihime and Hikoboshi on the 7th day of the 7th month.

A small boy looks at the Tanabata decorations at Kitano Tenmangu.

'Tamaori-hime', small colourful balls of flavoured rice dough and sugar.

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

👹KYŌTO'S GRANDEST FESTIVAL😇 Summer in Kyōto is said to begin with the Gion Matsuri (祇園祭) and end with the Gozan-no-Okuribi (五山送り火)🤔 an anti-plague charm on Simon bamboo... door of the inn なよ竹のささら三八御宿哉 -Kobayashi Issa (小林一茶), 1812. Trans. David Lanoue. #Kyoto #京都 #Japan #祇園祭 #祭

Beautiful tapestries decorate one of the Gion Matsuri's floats.

A giant red decoration hanging for Tanabata in the worship hall of Imamiya-jinja.

Prayers said at Eki-jinja in Yasaka-jinja's grounds mark the end of the Gion Matsuri.

Daimonji, greatest of the Gozan-no-Okuribi.

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

🐎👘🌕KYŌTO IDIOMS🍆🪂🛶 The city has given birth to a handful of common phrases used in Japan. Often these idioms give us an insight into unusual customs, historical figures, famous festivals, and sometimes even reveal a little of what people think of Kyōtoites🤔 #Kyoto #京都

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Camellia Tea Ceremony @camelliakyoto.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

🥒🫑🍆KYŌTO'S CINDERELLA🥕🥦🥔 One of Kyōto's most popular snacks for Tanabata is Matsuya-Tōbee's 'Tamaori-hime' (珠玉織姫), small balls of sugar and rice dough. The sweets come in 5 colours, and although available all year round sell out quickly during the Star Festival🎋 #Kyoto

Statue of Keisho-in on the upper mountain slope of Yoshimine-dera (Kyoto is far below in the distance).

Matsuya-Tobee's 'Tamaori-hime', colourful balls of sugared rice dough.

Matsuya-Tobee's 'Tamaori-hime' (colourful balls of sugared rice dough) and 'Murasakino Matsukaze' (a fermented cake of flour, sugar and white miso).

Colourful tanzaku (written with wishes) hung on bamboo fronds of July 7th's 'Star Festival'.

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