{"id":2769,"date":"2014-01-10T10:25:28","date_gmt":"2014-01-10T01:25:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/shiga-ken.com\/blog\/?p=2769"},"modified":"2015-10-30T11:03:50","modified_gmt":"2015-10-30T02:03:50","slug":"winter-festivals-jan-feb-2014-in-shiga","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shiga-ken.com\/blog\/2014\/01\/winter-festivals-jan-feb-2014-in-shiga\/","title":{"rendered":"Winter festivals Jan.-Feb. 2014 in Shiga"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/n-SfD9DFxOg\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Updated: Feb. 27, 2014<\/p>\n<p>After Japan&#8217;s biggest celebration called New Year&#8217;s, it&#8217;s back to work. But there&#8217;s still some fun left during this cold or freezing season. Here are some recommended winter festivals (matsuri) and events in Shiga Prefecture during January to February 2014. (Most Web sites are in Japanese only.)<\/p>\n<p>This page will be updated with new events as the winter weeks go by.<\/p>\n<p><strong>January 9-11, 2014<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>\u2666 Hokoku Shrine Toka Ebisu<\/strong>, <a href=\"https:\/\/photoguide.jp\/txt\/Nagahama,_Shiga\">Nagahama<\/a><br \/>\nDedicated to Toyotomi Hideyoshi, worshipped for succeeding in life and for business prosperity. It holds the Toka\u00a0Ebisu festival for three days centering on Jan. 10th. Ebisu is one of the Seven Gods of Good Fortune, representing business prosperity. During the three days, shrine maidens sell small\u00a0bamboo branches with various lucky decorations.\u00a0On Jan. 10, there will be a procession of kimono ladies and a float from the shrine to Nagahama Hachimangu Shrine.\u00a0Hope it doesn&#8217;t snow. On the 11th, they will throw lucky mochi.\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/F1HHw\" target=\"_blank\">Google Map<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>January 11, 2014<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>\u2666 Katsube Shrine Fire Festival<\/strong>, <a href=\"https:\/\/photoguide.jp\/txt\/Moriyama,_Shiga\">Moriyama<\/a>, 6:00 pm \u2013 9:00 pm<br \/>\nVery impressive fire festival, but cold while you wait for it to start. Twelve giant straw torches are lit up in the shrine grounds at around 8:30 pm after a taiko procession around the city and ceremony at 6 pm. See the video at top of this page. \u52dd\u90e8\u306e\u706b\u796d\u308a<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/shiga-ken.com\/blog\/2012\/01\/fire-festivals-in-moriyama\/\" target=\"_blank\">More about this festival here<\/a>. |\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/youtu.be\/n-SfD9DFxOg\" target=\"_blank\">Video<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/photoguide.jp\/pix\/thumbnails.php?album=190\">More photos<\/a> |\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/nfZJh\" target=\"_blank\">Google Map<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>January 11, 2014<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>\u2666 Fuke Sumiyoshi Shrine Fire Festival<\/strong>, <a href=\"https:\/\/photoguide.jp\/txt\/Moriyama,_Shiga\">Moriyama<\/a>, 6:00 pm \u2013 9:00 pm<br \/>\nSix giant straw torches are lit up in the shrine grounds at around 8:30 pm. Related to the Katsube Shrine Fire Festival held at the same time. Less crowded than Katsube Shrine. \u6d6e\u6c17\u306e\u706b\u796d\u308a<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/shiga-ken.com\/blog\/2012\/01\/fire-festivals-in-moriyama\/\" target=\"_blank\">More about this festival here<\/a>. |\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/youtu.be\/n-SfD9DFxOg\" target=\"_blank\">Video<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/photoguide.jp\/pix\/thumbnails.php?album=460\">More photos<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/9GDGy\" target=\"_blank\">Google Map<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>January 19-December 28, 2014<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>\u2666 Kuroda Kanbee Expo<\/strong> (\u9ed2\u7530\u5b98\u5175\u885b\u535a\u89a7\u4f1a), 9 am &#8211; 5 pm, <a href=\"https:\/\/photoguide.jp\/txt\/Nagahama,_Shiga\">Nagahama<\/a><br \/>\nYet another Taiga Drama-related &#8220;expo&#8221; in Nagahama. Held in concert with 2014&#8217;s year-long NHK Taiga Drama called <em>Gunshi Kanbee<\/em> (\u8ecd\u5e2b\u5b98\u5175\u885b) airing on NHK TV. The expo will explain and show Kanbee&#8217;s connection with Shiga (Omi) while he served under Toyotomi Hideyoshi in the 16th century. There are two venues: Nagahama Castle and a distinctive, Western-style building (formerly a Shiga Bank branch) in Kinomoto. I&#8217;ll report on it in more detail when I visit later. Admission 400 yen for Nagahama Castle History Museum and 300 yen in Kinomoto.\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/ezvdN\" target=\"_blank\">Google Map<\/a> | <a href=\"http:\/\/kitabiwako.jp\/kanbee\/\" target=\"_blank\">Website<\/a><\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 267px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/photoguide.jp\/pix\/thumbnails.php?album=123\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/photoguide.jp\/pix\/albums\/shiga\/nagahama\/bonbai\/ke234-IMG_4580.jpg\" alt=\"bonbaiten\" width=\"267\" height=\"400\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Bonbaiten in Nagahama.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>January 18-March 10, 2014<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>\u2666 Nagahama Bonbaiten<\/strong>\u00a0\u9577\u6d5c\u76c6\u6885\u5c55, <a href=\"https:\/\/photoguide.jp\/txt\/Nagahama,_Shiga\">Nagahama<\/a>, Keiunkan (\u6176\u96f2\u9928), 9 am \u2013 5 pm<br \/>\nThis is perhaps Shiga\u2019s most famous plum blossom bonsai exhibition, held annually since 1952. The venue is the stately Keiunkan (\u6176\u96f2\u9928), a Japanese-style former guesthouse originally built in 1887 to accommodate Emperor Meiji when he visited Nagahama. It\u2019s\u00a0near JR Nagahama Station. They have 90 bonsai trees on display and can be centuries old. Don\u2019t touch and try to smell these prized trees. Admission: 500 yen (200 yen for high school and younger)\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/4rVmi\" target=\"_blank\">Google Map<\/a>\u00a0| <a href=\"http:\/\/kitabiwako.jp\/bonbai\/\" target=\"_blank\">Website<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>January 10-March 10, 2014<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>Kamo-no-sato Bonbaiten\u00a0<\/strong>\u9d28\u306e\u91cc\u76c6\u6885\u5c55, <a href=\"https:\/\/photoguide.jp\/txt\/Maibara,_Shiga\">Maibara<\/a>, Green Park Santo (\u30b0\u30ea\u30fc\u30f3\u30d1\u30fc\u30af\u5c71\u6771), 9:30 am \u2013 5 pm (enter by 4:30 pm)<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/photoguide.jp\/pix\/thumbnails.php?album=169\">Green Park Santo<\/a> is a large recreational park in Maibara. Inside the Spark Santo hall (\u3059\u3071\u30fc\u304f\u5c71\u6771) are about 120 bonsai plum trees raised by over 30 devoted growers. They also have an orchid show at the same time. Near JR Omi-Nagaoka Station. Admission: 400 yen (200 yen for high school and younger, free for elementary schoolers)\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/onr2Q\" target=\"_blank\">Google Map<\/a> | <a href=\"http:\/\/greenpark-santo.com\/campaign\/bonbaiten.php\" target=\"_blank\">Website<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Feb.-early March<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>Plum blossoms in Shiga<\/strong><br \/>\nShiga has a number of plum blossom gardens.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/shiga-ken.com\/blog\/2013\/02\/plum-blossoms-in-shiga-prefecture\/\">See this post for a list of plum blossom gardens in Shiga.<\/a><\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 400px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/photoguide.jp\/pix\/thumbnails.php?album=727\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/photoguide.jp\/pix\/albums\/shiga\/taga-cho\/setsubun\/ts041-20090203_2549.jpg\" alt=\"setsubun\" width=\"400\" height=\"267\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Taga Taisha Setsubun bean throwing on Feb. 3.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>February 3, 2014<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>\u2666 Taga Taisha Setsubun<\/strong>, <a href=\"https:\/\/photoguide.jp\/txt\/Taga-cho,_Shiga\">Taga<\/a>, 11 am and 2 pm<br \/>\nShiga&#8217;s most impressive Setsubun festival with impressive ogre (called oni in Japanese) dancers from Shimane Prefecture to act as the demons to chase away during the festival. Highlighted by bean-throwing (mame-maki). They will hold two mame-maki sessions on Feb. 3, at 11 am and 2 pm. Expect a large crowd.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/shiga-ken.com\/blog\/2012\/01\/setsubun-at-taga-taisha-shrine\/\" target=\"_blank\">More about this festival here<\/a>. |\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/youtu.be\/41epqjNMG8s\" target=\"_blank\">Video<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/photoguide.jp\/pix\/thumbnails.php?album=727\">More photos<\/a>\u00a0| <a href=\"http:\/\/g.co\/maps\/hhskt\" target=\"_blank\">Google Map<\/a>\u00a0| <a href=\"http:\/\/www.tagataisya.or.jp\/info\/setubun\/index2.html\" target=\"_blank\">Website<\/a><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/photoguide.jp\/pix\/albums\/shiga\/higashiomi\/gokashoshonin\/021-IMG_3216.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"267\" height=\"400\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>February-March 2014<br \/>\n\u2666 Hina-matsuri<\/strong> dolls (\u96db\u796d\u308a\u306e\u96db\u4eba\u5f62) are being displayed at various locations in Shiga to celebrate Girl&#8217;s Day on March 3.<\/p>\n<p>On the weekend of Feb. 15-16, 2014, <a href=\"https:\/\/photoguide.jp\/pix\/thumbnails.php?album=109\">Gokasho<\/a> in <a href=\"https:\/\/photoguide.jp\/txt\/Higashiomi,_Shiga\">Higashi-Omi<\/a> is having a unique event of live hina dolls called Ningen Hina-matsuri (\u306b\u3093\u3052\u3093\u96db\u307e\u3064\u308a). Yes, they are real girls, ten of them, dressed as Hina dolls. They will appear twice on both the 15th and 16th at\u00a010:00 am to 11:30 am and at 1:30 pm to 3 pm at the\u00a0Omi-shonin merchant home of Tonomura Shigeru\u00a0(\u5916\u6751\u7e41\u90b8).<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/photoguide.jp\/pix\/thumbnails.php?album=109\"><strong>Gokasho, Higashi-Omi:<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0Normal hina ningyo dolls are also displayed in the Omi-shonin merchant homes and museums. They are on display until March 23 (9:30 am to 4:30 pm) in the former residences of Tonomura Uhee (\u5916\u6751 \u5b87\u5175\u885b), Tonomura Shigeru (\u5916\u6751 \u7e41), Nakae Jungoro (\u4e2d\u6c5f \u6e96\u4e94\u90ce), and Fujii Hikoshiro (\u85e4\u4e95 \u5f66\u56db\u90ce\u90b8). The homes are large, stately Japanese-style mansions. Must-see for architecture buffs. Buy a single 600 yen ticket and you can enter all the homes. Closest train station is\u00a0Ohmi Railways Gokasho Station.\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/bWDtl\" target=\"_blank\">Google Map<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/photoguide.jp\/pix\/thumbnails.php?album=447\">Omi-Hachiman:<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0Former\u00a0Ban family residence (\u65e7\u4f34\u5bb6\u4f4f\u5b85) until March 23, 2014 (closed Mon.). Omi merchant home which also served as a girls school and public library until 1997. Spacious room with a large display of Hina dolls.\u00a0The former Nishikawa Residence (Kyu-Nishikawa-ke Jutaku \u65e7\u897f\u5ddd\u5bb6\u4f4f) also has doll display. This is a large Omi merchant home designated as an Important Cultural Property. The Kawara Roof Tile Museum and some shops in central Omi-Hachiman will also have hina doll displays.\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/ymNns\" target=\"_blank\">Google Map<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/photoguide.jp\/pix\/thumbnails.php?album=326\">Hino:<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0Omi Hino Merchant House (\u8fd1\u6c5f\u65e5\u91ce\u5546\u4eba\u9928) until March 9, 2014. The former home of Hino merchant Yamanaka Hyouemon was donated to the town in 1981. Now a museum exhibiting the history and artifacts of the Hino merchants. Admission 300 yen. Another place is Hino Machikado Kan-okan (\u65e5\u91ce\u307e\u3061\u304b\u3069\u611f\u5fdc\u9928) which is a former home along Hino&#8217;s main road. It is also a tourist information office. Free admission. Some shops and homes in central Hino will also\u00a0have hina doll displays.\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/dvQFm\" target=\"_blank\">Google Map<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Enjoy Girl&#8217;s Day!\u00a0Japanese hina-matsuri map:\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.omi-syonin.com\/htm01\/book2014.htm\" target=\"_blank\">http:\/\/www.omi-syonin.com\/htm01\/book2014.htm<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Feb. 25 to March 3, 2014<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>\u2666 Shiga Prefecture Food and Craft Fair (Dai-Omiten)<\/strong> \u7435\u7436\u6e56\u5922\u8857\u9053 \u5927\u8fd1\u6c5f\u5c55, Takashimaya Department Store (8th floor) in Nihonbashi, Tokyo, 10 am &#8211; 8 pm (till 6 pm on March 3)<br \/>\nHeld annually to promote Shiga products in Tokyo, numerous food booths and crafts are displayed and sold. Hiko-nyan will also appear on March 1 and 2 at 12 noon and 2 pm on the rooftop stage.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Updated: Feb. 27, 2014 After Japan&#8217;s biggest celebration called New Year&#8217;s, it&#8217;s back to work. But there&#8217;s still some fun left during this cold or freezing season. Here are some recommended winter festivals (matsuri) and events in Shiga Prefecture during&#8230; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[44,6,8,17,18,20,24],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2769","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-winter","category-higashiomi","category-hino","category-moriyama","category-nagahama","category-omihachiman","category-taga"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/shiga-ken.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2769","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/shiga-ken.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/shiga-ken.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shiga-ken.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shiga-ken.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2769"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/shiga-ken.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2769\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3930,"href":"https:\/\/shiga-ken.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2769\/revisions\/3930"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/shiga-ken.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2769"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shiga-ken.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2769"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shiga-ken.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2769"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}