Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto will hold its Hatsu Uma Festival on Saturday in which visitors pray for a healthy family life and good business. The ceremony will run for about an hour from 8 a.m., but visitors are welcome all day. Admission is free. The shrine is near Inari Station on the JR Nara Line. For more information, go to inari.jp (in Japanese) or call (075) 641-7331.

Non-Japanese invited to special cooking class

Foreigners can learn on March 3 in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, how to cook special dishes for the doll festival.

The lesson, running from 10:15 a.m. to 2 p.m. will cover sushi rolls, tempura, rapeseed blossoms dressed with soybean curd, clear soup and sweet rice cakes covered with cherry leaves.

Participation is ¥800. Reservations must be made by Feb. 25 as only 20 people will be accepted.

The venue, Nishinomiya Chuo Kominkan, is a five-minute walk from Nishinomiya Kitaguchi Station on the Hankyu Line. For more information, call (0798) 32-8680 or send email to [email protected].

English tour of Osaka's Doguyasuji, Kuromon

Non-Japanese people are invited on a guided tour in English on Feb. 23 in Osaka to walk around Doguyasuji, a street known for shops selling all kinds of kitchen utensils, and the Kuromon food market. Participants will meet at the ticket gate on Platform 1 at Nippombashi Station on the Sakaisuji subway line at 11 a.m. The tour will finish at 1:30 p.m.

Participation is free, although participants will have to pay for their transportation and lunch. Reservations must be made by Feb. 16. For more information, call (06) 6872-0503 or send email to [email protected] with the subject header "Bridges event."

Disaster workshop for Nagoya-area foreigners

Foreign residents in and around Nagoya can attend a workshop Saturday to learn about natural disasters including earthquakes and how to minimize the danger and damage. The session runs from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Participation is free. Reservations are required. The venue, Nagoya International Center, is seven minutes on foot from Nagoya Station. For more information, go to www.nic-nagoya.or.jp/en/e/archives/8202 (in English) or call (052) 581-0100.

Free medical consultations provided in Aichi

Medical Information Center Aichi (MICA) will hold a free consultation session for foreign residents on health issues Feb. 24 in Nagoya. The session will last from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. The venue, Mikokoro Center, is a five-minute walk from Shiyakusho Station on the Meijo subway line.

For more information, go to mica.cloverix.net/index.php?lang=en (in English) or call (052) 588-7040.

Doll festival in Seto running through March 3

A doll festival is being held in Seto, Aichi Prefecture, through March 3. Visitors can see various traditional dolls on display at numerous locations around the city, or make them from different materials. Some restaurants are also offering special menus for the festival.

The main venue is close to Owari Seto Station on the Meitetsu Seto Line. For more information, go to www.seto-marutto.info/hina/index.html (in Japanese) or call (0561) 85-2730.