The highlight procession "Yamahoko Junko" of "Saki Matsuri," or the former festival, of the Gion Festival, one of Japan's three major festivals, started in central Kyoto City on July 17. Celebrating the festival's 1,150th anniversary this year, a total of 23 Yama and Hoko floats decorated with gorgeous tapestries, which...

Kyoto Animation Co., Ltd. was founded in 1981. It has worked comprehensively in planning through production of animated TV shows and movies. It is based in Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture, where its head office is located, and has several studios. Its works have been released both in Japan and abroad....

Shortly after 10:30 a.m. on July 18, near the 1st Studio of filmmaker Kyoto Animation Co., Ltd., located in Inaba, Momoyama-cho, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, a local resident made an emergency call, reporting, "I heard an explosion from the first floor of the building. Smoke is coming out." The city's fire...

Due to the concentration of visitors from Japan and abroad, annoying behavior toward "Ochaya," or tea houses where guests are entertained by geisha, and Geiko and Maiko, or geisha and apprentice geisha, has become a problem around Hanami-koji Street in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto. As a result, various measures will be...

The Private Lodging Business Act, known as "Minpaku-ho," which permits owners to lodge tourists in residences for a fee, marked its 1st anniversary on June 15. According to results compiled by Japan Tourism Agency as of June 7, there are 555 vacation rentals in Kyoto City, an increase of 25...

This year marks the 10th year since Kusatsu City Tourist Association in Shiga Prefecture and other organizations started their annual summer-time event to experience hot-air balloon flight at Karasuma Peninsula in Oroshimo-cho, Kusatsu City. The flight time is short, lasting about five minutes, but it is popular as tourists can...

Green maple leaves are at their best in Rurikoin in Takano, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto. In the mountain and valley surrounded temple, green gradation composed of the many trees is fascinating people. Over the moss carpet rolled out in "Ruri-no-niwa," a Japanese-style garden, more than 100 "Takao Momiji" and other kinds...