| DATE: | August 15, 2006 From 21:00 | |
| PLACE: | Hanase Yamasu-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto |
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| DIRECTION: | By car or taxi, or by bus to Hanase Koryu no Mori Mae Kyoto Bus has a “Matsuage Kansho Bus” (reservation necessary) on the day of the festival |
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| TEL: | 81-75-746-0215（Sakyo Ward Office Hanase Branch） | |
| ADMISSION: | Free | |
| TEXT: | Hanase Matsuage is a spectacular fire festival that began in Hanase Yamasu-cho a long time ago. It is held as a prayer to protect us from illness and guarantee a good harvest. People throw burning torches into a basket placed on top of a 20-meter-high torogi, a pole made of Japanese cypress, in an attempt to set it alight. More than 1000 pine torches (jimatsu) turn the area into a blaze of fire. |