I would like to inform the bamboo cutting ceremony at Kurama Temple, which is known as a sacred mountain of power spots.
Take the JR Nara Line from JR Kyoto Station, change to the Keihan Railway at Tofukuji and get off at Demachiyanagi Station. Take the Eizan Railway from Demachiyanagi Station and get off at Kurama Station. Take the cable car and get off at Tahoto Station and walk 10 minutes to Kurama Temple.
The bamboo cutting ceremony is one of the oldest events in Kyoto with a history of over 1000 years, and will be held at Kurama Temple on June 20th from 14:00 to 15:00.
Kurama-hoshi, divided into teams of two, compete to see how fast they can cut the green bamboo, which is 4m long and 10cm thick. The left side is called the Tanba-za, and the right is called the Omi-za. A monk wearing a Benkei kimono cuts down bamboo with a machete, predicts the year's good harvest in both regions, gives thanks to the water, and prays for the clearing of evil.
