Gentle Kyoto

So, when choosing Kyoto as my destination in the first days of the new year, I brought with me excitement and curiosity about the ancient capital, which preserves ancient temples, traditional neighborhoods and profound cultural values. Not as bustling as Tokyo or as magnificent as Osaka, Kyoto is like a quiet melody of time.

Japanese girls pray at a shrine in Kyoto during the first days of the new year.

Japan's move to celebrate the New Year according to the Gregorian calendar is a historic decision that reflects the change of a country steeped in tradition that is striving to preserve its cultural values while constantly developing. Oshogatsu - the country's New Year, is a sacred moment for Japanese people to remember their ancestors, pray for good things and strengthen family ties. Not as bustling and vibrant as the traditional New Year in other East Asian countries, New Year in Japan, especially in Kyoto, has a peaceful, gentle and contemplative appearance.

Kyoto, the thousand-year-old ancient capital, is a place where every street, every step is imbued with tradition and sacredness. Not only does it preserve the quintessence of a thousand-year-old culture, Kyoto is also an ideal place to feel the New Year atmosphere in Japanese style - as gentle as the inherent rhythm of life. Gion and Higashiyama, two famous old neighborhoods with ancient beauty, with quiet wooden roofs, lanterns reflecting on stone-paved streets, cherry blossoms gently in the cold air, like spring calligraphy. Temples such as Fushimi Inari Taisha, Yasaka Shrine or Kiyomizu-dera are not only pilgrimage sites but also preserve the breath of Kyoto through the centuries.

At midnight on December 31st, the “Joya-no-Kane” ceremony takes place at temples across Kyoto. 108 bells, representing 108 afflictions, ring out to purify the soul, wash away worries, and usher in a peaceful new year. The moment is not noisy and bustling, but quiet and sacred, leaving a wonderful serenity in the hearts of participants.

Yasaka Shrine in Gion area is especially bright on New Year's Eve during the Okera Mairi festival - a sacred fire ritual that has existed for a long time in Kyoto. The fire is lit from okera tree, a traditional medicinal herb, carrying the belief of purification, exorcising evil spirits and bestowing blessings for the new year. People slowly enter the shrine grounds, silently praying before the red-hot fire. They bring the embers home to cook ozoni - traditional mochi rice cake soup, or light up the ancestral altar, as a way to welcome luck and peace. The image of countless flames burning brightly on New Year's Eve at Yasaka Shrine is not only a symbol of the new year in Kyoto but also shows the spirit of preserving Japanese traditions. In a modern country, this cultural feature is still respected and passed down, like an eternal flame that lights up hope.

An indispensable tradition during Oshogatsu is Hatsumode - the Shinto custom of visiting a shrine to pray for the new year. Japanese people often perform this ritual from New Year's Eve or on the first days of the new year. Even though they have to wait in line in the cold, they still patiently hold a warm cup of amazake in their hands, quietly praying for a peaceful year. Early in the morning of the first day of the new year, a long line of people stretches out in front of the shrine gate, slowly walking into the sacred space, where prayers resound in solemnity. After praying, they buy omamori lucky charms or write their wishes on ema - small wooden boards hanging in the wind. The neat handwriting, simple but sincere wishes, make the space here more peaceful, as if containing the hope of a new beginning.

The New Year in Kyoto is not only a time of transition, but also an opportunity to enjoy traditional values through cuisine . Osechi Ryori - the Japanese New Year's feast, is meticulously prepared in lacquered wooden boxes, each dish has its own meaning: cod roe symbolizes prosperity, lobster symbolizes longevity, herring symbolizes fertility, soybeans pray for longevity, pickled radish represents family harmony. In addition, ozoni - traditional mochi soup, brings a simple but profound flavor. A hot bowl of ozoni with a light broth, combined with soft mochi, reminds me of Kyoto itself: Calm, delicate, and always leaves in the hearts of diners the warm aftertaste of spring.

In addition to religious ceremonies, Kyoto residents also clean their houses and decorate their porches with Kadomatsu pine trees – a symbol of prosperity and peace. These customs not only welcome the new year, but also demonstrate the Japanese spirit of connecting with nature and respecting tradition.

Although Japan has deeply integrated with the world , Kyoto is still a place where the past and present blend in every street corner, moss-covered temple roof, and bright red torii gate. In the first days of the year, Kyoto is not noisy and bustling but quiet and peaceful, allowing the chaos to disappear, giving way to new and good things. Kyoto people welcome the new year with simplicity but depth like a cup of hot tea in a quiet garden, a cozy traditional meal or a moment of contemplation before a blazing sacred fire on New Year's Eve. All create a gentle, meaningful start, helping people pause to cherish eternal values: Nature, culture, family and community.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/diu-dang-kyoto-693283.html