So after I spent the day walking around Kyoto I stopped in a town called Moriyama to see their fire festival. I was so tired I almost didn't but as always didn't want to miss this experience. So when Anette got on her train I got on mine and arrived way too early - it was around 5:15 and the event started at 8:30) in Moriyama. I was hoping to find a restaurant or someplace where I could spend a couple of hours but I didn't. So I walked over to the shrine hoping that maybe something was already happening. But no, loads of amatuer photographers where already surrounding the area that would hold the fire but there was nothing happening.
So I decided to take a walk still hoping to find a cafe or someplace to sit and stay warm.
 |
| These are the things they burn. Four or five of them were already at the shrine, 5 or 6 more were lined up on the street and would be brought in as part of the event. |
I didn't find a cafe but I did find the practice site. Where there was a big fire burning and the young men were drinking, pouring sake on each other, gearing themselves up for the event and generally having a good time. I enjoyed the warmth of the fire but for some reason it made me wish I had some marshmallows and a stick!
 |
| I think these men were in charge of crowd control. |
Okay, so I'd spent about an hour there and I still had 2 more to waste. So I found the main street and went into a restaurant that I thought I'd be able to spend a bit of time in. I ordered dinner and heard the waitress telling some other people who entered after me that they were closing soon.
I was able to stay until about 7:15 or so, when the other customers left and I felt I should go too.
I went back the shrine and just stood around with the gathering crowd. All the while I was thinking that I should go home since I saw the practice, but I kept thinking the main event would be something worth seeing. I probably would have enjoyed had I not been so tired - I hadn't had a morning to sleep in or get over jet lag since returning and we had walked all over Kyoto as well. As it turned out, the practice was better since I could get close to the fire, see everything that was going on, and feel the warmth.
Around 8pm the event started with the men carrying taiko drums around the block. Then they entered the shrine area and were blessed by the priests.
They went back out and started bringing in the torches (for lack of a better word).
As they got near the entrance some of them would stand on top of the torch and shout encouragement and other groups would try to keep them out. I wasn't very close as you can see (I did have a pretty good view since I was standing on someone's wall) but I could smell the liquor!
Bringing the torches in took a while... still thinking about going home but I had already stayed so long it didn't make sense to go home before they lit the torches.
Finally they were lit! Not a good view. I should have gone home after seeing the practice fire!!!!
I think the two most amazing things were 1) that the trees surrounding the shrine didn't catch on fire with those huge flames and 2) none of those drunk young men got hurt.
A 15 minute walk to the train and I arrived in Hikone after 10. Then the decision to ride my bike (I was so exhausted) or take a cab. But if I took a cab I'd have to take a bus back on Sunday to retrieve my bike and I really wanted Sunday to be a stay at home day. So I got my bike but I couldn't even make it up the hill over the river (partly because I was so tired, partly because my legs are so out of shape from not riding) so I had to walk it up. The downhill side is always good. Home around 10:30, wash, change, straight into bed. Aaaa.
No comments:
Post a Comment