The third "Rimpa Rock" festival, produced by Kyoto-based painter Hideki Kimura, will be held at the Heian Jingu shrine from 6 p.m. on Oct. 12. Scheduled to take part are singers, choreographers and other artists, including Heian Gagaku Kai, a band using ancient Japanese musical instruments, Yamato no Hibiki Kyo,...

Shiga Prefecture is not as hot as the adjacent Kyoto Prefecture due to Lake Biwa. This image of the Lake Biwa area may be overturned thanks to some data revealed by this summer's fierce heat. In July, Higashiomi City recorded the fifth highest temperature in Japan on one day, and...

The float procession for the "Ato Matsuri," or latter festival, of the Gion Festival took place in central Kyoto City on July 24. Accompanied by the "Kon-chiki-chin" sound of the "Gion-bayashi" festival music melody, a total of 10 Yama and Hoko floats decorated with gorgeous ornaments proceeded along the streets...

To coincide with the Gion Festival, the Kyoto Shimbun Co., Ltd. created and released a map site for smartphone devices, combining descriptions, photos, and videos of floats with area maps. With the Global Positioning System (GPS), users can also see their current location on the illustrated maps, which is useful...

An exhibition introducing how games have changed from analog to digital over 90 years started at Joyo City Folklore Reference Center in Terada, Joyo City, Kyoto Prefecture, on July 7. With a focus on TV games from the 1970s, some models that are whisperingly called "illusory game consoles" are also...

Two gelato chefs in Kyoto won an international competition held in Italy, homeland of "granita," a type of gelato. They are the first Japanese to win it. Granita made using the same recipe has been sold at a shop in Ukyo Ward, Kyoto, since July. The pair enthusiastically said, "We...

The Shinko-sai festival, a part of the Gion Festival, took place in the central area of Kyoto City, on the evening of July 17. Three portable shrines gathered in front of Yasaka Shrine, Higashiyama Ward. Gallant shouting of "Hoitto, hoitto" by the male carriers, called "Yocho," resounded. Just after 6:00...