Autumn in Kyoto: Festivals, Ikebana Tools, and Nageire Lessons
Experience Kyoto’s autumn festivals and learn ikebana at home, from caring for tools to creating elegant Nageire arrangements without a kenzan.
🌾 What Reminds You That Autumn Has Come?
In Japan, the arrival of autumn is marked by Shūbun no Hi (秋分の日), or Autumnal Equinox Day. Across the country, people celebrate the change of seasons through festivals.
This year, our family joined such a festival at Seimei Shrine in Kyoto. Built to honor Abe no Seimei, a legendary onmyōji (spiritual master) known for his wisdom and mystical powers, the shrine’s five-pointed star represents harmony within nature and protection from misfortune. Many people visit to pray for good fortune, safety, and purification.
The ceremony started with a solemn prayer led by the shrine’s priestess, accompanied by the gentle sounds of bells and Japanese flutes. Soon after, local men prepared to carry a mikoshi (portable shrine), and the air grew filled with a quiet sense of tension and excitement.
By early afternoon, the streets came alive with a grand parade. Horses and people dressed in elegant Heian-period attire filled the city with color and music. As the drums and flutes echoed, the parade moved through the busy city—yet the space around us felt calm, sacred, and timeless.
The crowd’s excitement grew as the children’s mikoshi passed by, and behind them, the men’s mikoshi followed with incredible energy. When they departed from Seimei Shrine, the air was alive with spirit and power.
What stayed with me most was the pride of Kyoto’s people: their ability to preserve centuries-old traditions while living fully in the present. I truly hope these beautiful traditions continue for generations to come.
This week, paid members can continue below for the following content:
- Step-by-step ikebana using Nageire style (with video)
- A reflection on the importance of scissors in ikebana