Famous Sites and Festivals　名所とイベント

Shūon-an (Ikkyūji Temple) was rebuilt in the 15th century by one of the most famous Buddhist priests in Japanese history, Ikkyū. A treasure trove of cultural heritage, it attracts many visitors.

With a main hall building from the Edo Period, wooden statue of a seated Ikkyū from the Muromachi Period (both designated national cultural assets) as well as a beautiful dry landscape garden on the temple grounds, there is plenty to see!

The temple is also known for staging the Takigi Noh. Performed every autumn on the night of a full moon, it transports its viewers to a mystical world.

酬恩庵は、日本の歴史上で最も有名な僧侶の1人である一休禅師が15世紀に再興したお寺です。このお寺は文化財の宝庫で、多くの見学者が訪れ、秋は紅葉も楽しめます。

見所は、国の重要文化財に指定されている江戸時代の本堂などの建物や、国の名勝に指定されている江戸時代の枯山水（かれさんすい）庭園、国の重要文化財に指定されている室町時代の木造一休和尚（いっきゅうおしょう）坐像です。

また、毎年秋の満月の頃に行われる薪能（たきぎのう）は、見る者を幻想的な世界にいざないます。

Built in the Asuka Period, Kannonji Temple was until the Muromachi Period one of many buildings that made up a large Buddhist temple. It is famous for its cherry blossom and nanohana (rape blossom) in the spring and autumnal leaves in the fall.

Here you can see an 11-faced figure of Kannon made with wood-core dry lacquer from the Nara Period, which is a designated national treasure. Representative of Buddhist sculpture in the Nara Period, this work with its realistic style and gentle face is impressive to many viewers.

The Takeokuri (Bamboo-Sending Festival) which occurs every year in February also brings many people to the area. The bamboo itself is for the “Omizutori” (Water Ceremony) held by Shunie of Todaiji Nigestudo in Nara. The bamboo will be delievered from Kyotanabe City to Nara City as the main activity of the event. 

観音寺は飛鳥時代に建立されたとされ、室町時代まではたくさんの建物が建ち並ぶ大寺院でした。春は桜と菜の花、秋は紅葉の名所で有名です。

見所は、国宝に指定されている奈良時代の木心乾漆造（もくしんかんしつづくり）十一面観音立像（じゅういちめんかんのんりゅうぞう）です。奈良時代の仏教彫刻を代表する名作で、柔らかな顔貌と写実的な風貌は見る者を魅了します。

また、毎年2月に、東大寺二月堂（奈良市）の修二会（お水取り）に使う松明用の竹を運ぶ、「竹送り」が開催され、多くの参加者が訪れます。

Built in the Asuka Period, this temple was originally one of many buildings that made up a large Buddhist temple.

Here you can see a sculpture of a wooden thousand-armed Kannon which is a designated cultural asset from the Heian Period. Carved from wood, many come to see the sculpture, as a figure with this many arms is rare in Japan.

寿宝寺は飛鳥時代に建立されたとされ、古くはたくさんの建物が建ち並ぶ大寺院でした。

見所は、重要文化財に指定されている平安時代の木造千手観音立像（せんじゅかんのんりゅうぞう）です。この木像は実際に約千本の手がある全国的にも珍しいもので、多くの見学者が訪れます。

Tucked away deep in the mountains, this shrine is said to be the former shrine of the god of the Yasaka Shrine in Kyoto.

The brightly decorated main hall building was built originally in the Edo Period and is recognised as one of Kyoto prefecture’s registered cultural assets. Although it is not open to public, inside the temple is another official cultural asset of Kyoto prefecture, a wooden statue of Gozu Tennō (Buddhist deity with the head of a cow). This statue is representative tracing back to the Heian Period, and is famous in Japan for its angry expression.

朱智神社は山の奥にひっそりとたたずみ、京都の八坂神社の元となった神社とも言われています。

見所は、京都府の登録文化財に指定されている江戸時代初めの本殿で色鮮やかな装飾が見事です。また、非公開ですが、京都府の指定文化財に指定されている平安時代の木造牛頭天王立像（ごずてんのうりゅうぞう）は怒りの表情が特徴的で、平安時代前期にさかのぼる古作として全国的にも貴重な像です。

This temple was used for many years as a place where people prayed for rain and a good harvest. Here you can see a 13-level pagoda from the Kamakura Period which is a designated national cultural asset. Six metres high, it has proved to be a solid construction having endured many harsh winters.

法泉寺は農業のための雨乞い祈願で有名なお寺です。見所は、国の重要文化財に指定されている鎌倉時代の十三重の石塔で、高さは6メートルにおよび、長年の風雪に耐え力強くどっしりと立つ姿は、一見の価値があります。

The Ōsumi Kurumazuka Kōfun is tomb from the Kōfun Period and has been appointed as historical sites in Japan. This important cultural asset measures approximately 66 metres in length and is a “two conjoined rectangles” style tomb. 

Opposite to the south is another tomb measures approximately 70 metres in length and is called the Ōsumi Minamizuka Kōfun. The view of the two tombs in similar sizes lying in the rice fields is very beautiful.  

大住車塚古墳（おおすみくるまづかこふん）は国の史跡に指定されている古墳時代の古墳です。古墳の全長は約66メートルで、前方後方墳（ぜんぽうこうほうふん）と呼ばれる2つの四角形をつなぎ合わせた形をしています。

南隣りには全長約70メートルの大住南塚古墳（おおすみみなみづかこふん）もあり、水田の中に同規模の前方後方墳が2基並ぶ景色は美しく、一見の価値があります。

Around Kyotanabe City there are many rivers that have been built higher up than ground level. The bridges of the canal system that let the river pass above railways and roads are called “manbo”. One of the most famous manbo is the impressive-looking “Mitsumambo”, located to the east of the Tanabe Elementary school.

京田辺市には周囲の土地よりも川床が高い天井川（てんじょうがわ）と呼ばれるタイプの川がいくつかあります。天井川を線路や道路の上を通すために造られた水路橋のトンネルをマンボと呼びます。田辺小学校の東側には三本のトンネルを持つ美しい赤煉瓦造りの「ミツマンボ」があり、一見の価値があります。

Although this festival is a not unique to Kyotanabe, unlike other shrines in Japan the Grass-Ring Festival in Miyanokuchi District takes place outside the shrine grounds. Every year in July, a ring measuring 1・6 metres in diameter is constructed out of bundled bamboo sticks and leaves and placed on road-side at the north-eastern edge of the district. It is believed that if you pass through the ring from the north side three times, you will be granted with perfect health to live on.

茅の輪くぐりはどこの神社でも見られる伝統行事ですが、宮ノ口区の茅の輪くぐりは神社の敷地の外で行う珍しいものです。毎年7月に、笹の葉の付いた竹を束ねて直径約1・6m の輪を作り、宮ノ口区の東北の隅の道路に設置します。茅の輪を北側から3回くぐると、病気をせずに健康で過ごせるという願いがかなうとされています。

The Saga Shrine has an ancient history. Re-built in the Azuchi-Momoyama period, its main hall is a designated national cultural asset.

Every October the shrine’s festival “Yamato Hyakumi To Yudate” takes place in the temporary shrine located inside the Saga Shrine of Yamamoto District.

When the portable shrine arrives in the Saga Shrine, the believers will provide “Haykumi” (100 tastes of mountain and sea produces) that they gathered for God. Then the believers will eat the foods as hands down. In the night, a ritual called “Yudate Kagura” is performed at the front garden of the temporary shrine.

They boil hot water in a large pot and the shrine maidens will play hand bell and drums as they perform the ceremonial dance. Then they use bamboo leaf to scatter water on the spectators to conclude the ceremony in hoping for peace and good health.

Many people come to see the bright and colourful display of the Hyakumi and dynamic Yudate ritual in Yamamoto, which are both invisible official folk cultural properties of Japan.

佐牙神社（さがじんじゃ）は安土桃山時代に再建され、本殿が国の重要文化財に指定されています。

毎年10月には、山本地区の佐牙神社御旅所で「山本の百味と湯立」が行われます。

佐牙神社から神輿（みこし）が到着すると、各氏子が集めた野の幸・山の幸100余種を神前に供えます。お供えした百味は氏子たちで、「お下がり」として頂くそうです。

夜には、御旅所の前庭で湯立神楽（ゆだてかくら）が奉納されます。湯立て用の釜にお湯をわかし、巫女が鉦と太鼓のはやしにあわせ神楽を舞い最後に神笹でお湯をふりかけると、氏子の人たちは無病息災を祈ります。

山本の百味と湯立は市の無形民俗文化財に指定されており、百味の鮮やかさと、湯立のダイナミックさを見るために多くの見物客が訪れます。

Every year on 14th October a dance ritual called the Ōsumi Hayato Mai is performed at the Tsukiyomi Shrine.

Ōsumi Hayato Mai is a ritual that was brought by the Ōsumi Hayato people who moved to this area from southern Kyushu in the Asuka Period. A dance that was originally performed in front of the imperial court, the Ōsumi Hayato Mai has been taken up again in recent years and is now an official folk cultural property of Japan. The dance is performed today by school students (6 dances are performed by junior high school students, 1 dance is performed by elementary school students). Many people gather every year to see this event.

月読神社（つきよみじんじゃ）では、毎年10月14日に月読神社で大住隼人舞が奉納されます。

大住隼人舞は、飛鳥時代に九州南部から移住してきた大隅隼人（おおすみはやと）が朝廷で舞った隼人舞を近年復元したもので、市の無形民俗文化財に指定されています。中学生が演じる6種類の舞と、小学生が演じる1種類の踊りからなる大住隼人舞は見応えがあり、多くの見物客が訪れます。

The Tanakurahiko Shrine is famous for its main hall building was re-built during the Azuchi-Momoyama Period and is a designated cultural asset of Kyoto Prefecture.

Every two years in October, to celebrate the Autumn harvest, vegetables and grains such as red zuiki (taro stems) for roof, green zuiki for torii (Shinto shrine gateway) others like pepper, red eggplant, chrysanthemums are used to decorate a portable shrine called a “Mikoshi” which is paraded around the area for the “Zuiki Mikoshi” ritual. The Zuiki Mikoshi is an official invisible folk cultural property of the city. On the day of the festival many people come to see the procession. 

棚倉孫神社（たなくらひこじんじゃ）の本殿は安土桃山時代に再建されたもので、京都府の登録文化財に指定されています。

棚倉孫神社では2年に1度10月に、秋の収穫を祝って、屋根に赤ズイキ、鳥居に青ズイキ、その他には唐辛子や赤ナス、菊の花、大豆など全部で約30種類の野菜や穀物で飾り付けた色鮮やかな瑞饋神輿が、氏子地域を巡行します。瑞饋神輿は市の無形民俗文化財に指定されており、お祭りの当日は、多くの見物客で賑わいます。

The Sakaya Shrine’s established date still remain unknown as of today, however, according to the shrine history, it is said that the Empress Consort Jingū left sake barrels here as an offering to the gods before departing on an expedition to the Korean peninsula.  

Today many people visit the temple to worship the gods of sake.

酒屋神社（さかやじんじゃ）は創建年代など詳しいことは明らかでありません。社伝によれば、神宮皇后が朝鮮半島へ出兵した際に、酒壺を置いたとされる場所に建てられたと言われています。そのため、現在でもお酒の神様として、人々に大切にされています。

The Sawai Family Residence was built in the Edo Period. It was home to the head priest and his family who served the imperial family. Today it is a designated national cultural asset.

Different from other houses of that era, this sophisticated-looking residence was solidly constructed with thick pillars and beams going through the building.   

澤井家住宅（さわいけじゅうたく）は、江戸時代に建てられた住宅で、国の重要文化財に指定されています。澤井家は、門跡曇華院の所領を治めていた代官でした。洗練されたデザインと、太い柱と太い梁を組み合わせた重厚な構えは、一見の価値があります。

In the great Ino’oka hills to the west of Kizugawa lies tombs from the 4th-6th century such as the Ino’oka Kurumazuka Kōfun and the Yakushiyama Kōfun.

The Ino’oka Kurumazuka Kōfun measuring 90 metres in length is the biggest tomb in the city area. It is a “key-hole” style kōfun (has one square-shaped and one circular end). Surrounded by beautiful tea fields, the site of the tomb is included in the Japan Heritage project, “A Walk through the 800-year History of Japanese Tea” as designated cultural asset.

From the summit of the Yakushiyama Kōfun, visitors can enjoy a spectacular view of the whole city.

木津川の西に位置する飯岡丘陵には、飯岡車塚古墳（いのおかくるまづかこふん）や薬師山古墳（やくしやまこふん）など、4世紀～6世紀の古墳が集中しています。

飯岡車塚古墳は全長90メートルの市内最大の古墳で、前方後円墳（ぜんぽうこうえんふん）と呼ばれる四角形と円形をつなぎ合わせた形をしており、迫力があります。また、飯岡古墳の周囲に広がる茶畑の景観は美しく、文化庁の日本遺産「日本茶800年の歴史散歩」の構成文化財に認定されています。

また、薬師山古墳の頂上からの眺めは絶景で、市内一円を見渡せます。