“Hoitto, hoitto!” Call of mikoshi portable shrine at Maiko beer garden

17 July is the highlight of Gion festival and many people enjoy to see “Yamaboko” float procession that I wrote in the previous article. Although the float is quite spectacular, its parade is only a means of getting rid of evil spirits from the Kyoto city to welcome Yasaka shrine’s deities. So I guided my guest to the most important part of Gion festival; “Shinko-sai” after my half day tour.

 In front of the Yasaka shrine, three portable shrines gathered together. The street around the shrine was packed with so many sightseers and local festival participants. The bearers carrying the portable shrines were crying out “hoitto, hoitto” roundly and that made Japanese festival like atmosphere. This is the real “Matsuri”!

After enjoying “Shinko-sai” starting ceremony, we headed to “Maiko beer garden” located in Gion shirakawa. It was perfect place to talk with “Maiko”; apprentice of Geisha and take photo with her. My guest had a lot of questions and I translated it to Japanese language for Maiko. She is “Koharu” from Miyagawacho, one of the flower districts located nearby Gion. Miyagawacho is good place to enjoy the quiet and tranquil because it is not widely known especially by foreign tourist.

When we were enjoying “Maiko beer garden” at the top floor of Japanese ryokan inn, suddenly vigorous call of festival “Hoitto, hoitto!” coming from the street. That brought us back to the festival again. Middle-aged men sitting next to our table also started shouting “Hoitto, hoitto!” toward the local people carrying “mikoshi”. The call of “mikoshi” portable shrine has magical power to produce festival atmosphere even at “Maiko beer garden”.

After the call of festival had gone, Maiko dance performance started and we came back to peaceful world. She was holding “uchiwa”Japanese old fan that delivered me the sense of summer. It is interesting to note that her ornament shape and kimono design were also “uchiwa”. Wearing seasonable designed ornament and kimono is important in Japan.

 On the way back to their accommodation and my station, local people were still carrying and shaking the “mikoshi” with the call “Hoitto, hoitto!”. Their back Chinese character “Nishiki” shows that they are Nishiki food market associated people.  “Mikoshi” portable shrine deepens the connection with deities and local solidarity. 

Following NHK program video also explains about them. You can watch the following video until 3 Agust.