Kyoto market and matsuri in Omihachiman

The message tonight will may be a little shorter because we returned late and exhausted.

The morning started with some contingencies: laundry. We have a washing machine that makes the 30-minute cycles: it was just perfect.

We left for Kyoto-style market where we spotted many pretty things that we will buy on our second stay in the old capital.
The market spans two perpendicular streets, essentially, it is covered, and some parts have temples side by side with fashion shops …
Otherwise, we saw a lot of food, especially fresh fish, pickled, dried…

Xim finally ate sushi!

Then off for the matsuri (festival): Arrival with subway, two trains and a bus later, some festival tanks brought to the shoulders of men (and they have a very heav look-like) are paraded in the streets. All are in the “colors” of the sign of the year: the horse. The tanks are fighting too, each team trying to overthrow another tank.

Near the temple, probably Shinto but leonine guards at the entrance made us doubt, were dozens of booths with good things to eat.
First red card: there was no trashcan, so the street was transformed into a giant trashbin, including the temple. This shocked us enough.

At 8 am (you can count on it in Japan) the first four tanks are ignited. Some young people are… completely drunk with sake, want to fight, their buddies preventing them. This is so folkloristic.
Moreover, young people seem to be very proud to wear traditional clothes, without going for something cheesy. So be it: it’s beautiful.