HOTEL GRANVIA KYOTO

Guests of the Hotel Kyoto Granvia are now being offered the unusual opportunity of experiencing the esoteric world of Shinto through escorted visits to the inner sanctums of the Kamigamo Shrine in Kyoto. Available only to guests of the Hotel Kyoto Granvia, this unique plan will usher visitors into a world that outsiders rarely get to see. Guests will be greeted by a Shinto priest for the early morning visit when the shrine is enveloped in an atmosphere of utter serenity. The priest will act as guide throughout the entire visit. Among the experiences awaiting guests will be a purification ceremony, visits to both important cultural properties and designated national treasures within the vast compound of the shrine, and the viewing of important assets including sacred ornaments and costumes and other objects used in the famed Aoi Festival. Guests will also have the opportunity to participate in a ceremony known as Onikku-sai which is dedicated to the proposition of world peace and prosperity. This ceremony, in fact, has never before been open to the general public. The visit will conclude with a traditional tea and Japanese sweets presentation in the shrine’s official guest quarters. After the tour guests will be encouraged to stroll through the lush gardens surroundings of the shrine. Of particular interest are the old homes of the families long affiliated with the shrine, one of which, the Nishimura House, is open to the public. There are also a picturesque waterway and a famed centuries-old iris garden in the nearby Ota Shrine that is well worth a visit.

*What you need to know about Kamigamo Shrine
Founded in 678, it is one of the city’s oldest shrines and is famous for any number of events and festivals. Chief among them is its role as the base for the famed Aoi Festival held every year in May, which is considered among the three most important festivals of the year in Kyoto. Traditional horse races are held here once a year, and on an appropriate day, visitors will see a grand white horse tethered in a wooden hut near the shrine gates. Despite its venerated place in history and its many attractions, it is not nearly as popular with visitors as one might expect. Thus the area is much more tranquil, exuding an atmosphere of peace and not readily found in other areas of the city.

■Discovering the Hidden Kyoto Charge: JPY3,000 per person for attending the Onikku-sai ceremony.
■Number of Guests: At least 2 with a maximum of 15 per day.
■Transportation: A taxi is recommended. The average rate is approx. JPY2,000 one way from the hotel to Kamigamo Shrine.
■Additional: Guidance is in Japanese. For guests who wish to have an interpreter, which is r ecommended, the fee will be JPY25,200 for the half day per group. For a group of 8 persons or more, English priest can be requested, also subject to availability.