There are one or two good snowy days in Kyōto each year, so when the flakes begin to flurry you have to make the most of it❄️🙌🌨️🧤🥶

#Kyoto #京都 #Japan #snow #winter #Japan #kyotosnow #snowday

And just like that the poor oni are defeated for another year👋

#Kyoto #京都 #Setsubun #節分 #Japan #Rozanji #廬山寺 #鬼踊り #onidance #spring

And just like that the poor oni are defeated for another year👋

#Kyoto #京都 #Setsubun #節分 #Japan #Rozanji #廬山寺 #鬼踊り #onidance #spring

The red oni leads the group in a dance to spook onlookers, threatening with sumo-like movements, raised weapons and a cold stare.

driving demons
into the darkness...
laughing
闇がりへ鬼追出して笑ひ哉
-Kobayashi Issa (小林一茶), 1813.
Trans. David G. Lanoue.

#Kyoto #京都 #Japan

Although oni are a common sight at Setsubun, Rozan-ji (廬山寺) has an origin story for its own 3 ogres.

When the temple's founder, Ryōgen (良源 912-85), was in training he was bothered by 3 troublesome oni (or spirits, depending on what version of the tale you read).
#Kyoto #鬼

A light layer of snow adorns the Ichijoji district in Kyoto❄️



Even when the snow falls here, the city center often remains untouched.



📍Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City



#photography #winter #snow #landscape #japan #kyoto

A light layer of snow adorns the Ichijoji district in Kyoto❄️



Even when the snow falls here, the city center often remains untouched.



📍Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City



#photography #winter #snow #landscape #japan #kyoto

#FotoVorschlag °Fensterfreitag°

Yusai-Tei Gallery
嵐山 祐亭
15. Oktober 2024

#Kyoto #Arashiyama #Fensterfreitag #Japan

#FotoVorschlag °Fensterfreitag°

Yusai-Tei Gallery
嵐山 祐亭
15. Oktober 2024

#Kyoto #Arashiyama #Fensterfreitag #Japan

Setsubun has its roots in a Chinese folk custom called Nuó (傩). In the 8thC this exorcistic religious tradition arrived in Japan as 'Tsuina' (追儺), a 'ritual to exorcise evil spirits on the last day of winter'.
It was necessary to physically drive away unwanted spirits.
#Kyoto