DATE:		October. 7, 8 and 15, 2007
PLACE:		1 Awadaguchi Kaji-cho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto
DIRECTION:		City Bus #5 to Jingu Michi or Subway Tozai Line to Higashiyama station
TEL:		81-75-551-3154
ADMISSION:		Free
TEXT:		A series of festivals known as the Awata Festival (Awata shrine grand festival) includes “Oidematsuri” and “Yowatari Shinji” on Oct. 7, “Shinkosai” and “Kankosai” on Oct. 8, and “Reitaisai” on Oct. 15. This 1,000-year-old festival took over from the Gion Festival after it was cancelled in the Muromachi period. During “Shinkosai,” six of the 18 Kenboko (the sword and the float) are said to be in the original style of the Yama Boko floats that would have taken part in the Gion Festival. It comes as quite a surprise to see volunteer members of the “Awata jinja Kenboko Hosan-kai” association marching through Kyoto, each shouldering 40 to 60 kg of the Ken Boko as they ring bells.