DATE:		February 2, 2006 1:00p.m. ~ Ponto-cho dance in dedication to God, bean-throwing ceremony by geisha and the Persons of the Year, Fukuoni (good demon) event and rice cake throwing 3:00p.m. ~ Miyagawa-cho in dedication to God, bean-throwing ceremony by geisha and the Persons of the Year, Fukuoni (good demon) event and rice cake throwing February 3, 2006 11:00a.m. ~ Imayou in dedication to God and bean-throwing ceremony by Imayou dedicators 1:00p.m. ~ Gionkoubu dance in dedication to God, bean-throwing ceremony by geisha and the Persons of the Year, Fukuoni (good demon) event and rice cake throwing 3:00p.m. ~ Gionhigashi dance in dedication to God, bean-throwing ceremony by geisha and the Persons of the Year, Fukuoni (good demon) event and rice cake throwing
PLACE:		Yasaka-jinja Shirine 625 Gion-cho Kitagawa, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto
DIRECTION:		Bus stop at Gion (city bus #100, 206, special 206) 15-minute walk from the Keihan Line at Shijo station or the Hankyu Kyoto Line at Kawaramachi station
TEL:		81-75-561-6155
ADMISSION:		300 yen (for lucky beans)
TEXT:		“In with fortune! Out with the evil!” is what everybody says on Setsubun, the calendar day to celebrate the coming of spring. People say “out with the evil,” but this evil or Oni (demon) is a good demon at the Yasaka-jinja Shrine and expels bad luck. In the shrine, a bean-throwing ceremony, a Fukuoni (good demon) event and rice cake throwing are performed. There are also dances from four geisha quarters dedicated to God, which attract so many visitors who wish to see the gorgeous dancing performances. On both days, visitors are offered lucky beans with a lottery (no losers; 300 yen) and also free Amazake (sweet rice sake). There you can enjoy Setsubun in a unique way to Kyoto.