Numerous temples in Kyoto will hold the traditional purification ritual known as "Nagoshi no Harae" on June 30.
People walk through a huge wreath made of miscanthus to atone for their sins in the first half of the year and pray for good health in the second half.
The ceremony starts at 10 a.m. at Kamigamo Shrine (www.kamigamojinja.jp/english/index.html ), 075-781-0011; at 3 p.m. at Kifune Shrine (kifunejinja.jp/index.html ), 075-741-2016; and at Nonomiya Shrine (www.nonomiya.com/index.html ); and at 4 p.m. at Heian Jingu Shrine (www.heianjingu.or.jp/index.html ), 075-761-0221; and Kitano Tenmangu Shrine (kitanotenmangu.or.jp ), 075-461-0005.
Music festival wraps up with all-day concert
A series of concerts for the international music festival "Fete de la Musique au Japon" in the Kansai region will conclude with a show from 10:15 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. June 30 in the National Museum of Ethnology in Suita, Osaka Prefecture.
Various musicians will play pieces from Africa, China, Hawaii, Indonesia, Japan and Nepal. Admission is free. The museum is a 15-minute walk from Koen Higashiguchi Station on the Osaka Monorail.
For more information, visit www.minpaku.ac.jp/museum/event/fetedelamusique/2013/index (in Japanese) or call 06-6878-8532.
Hydrangea-viewing on tap in Nara and Kyoto
Colorful hydrangea flowers are in bloom until the beginning of July in various sites in Nara and Kyoto prefectures.
Visitors can enjoy 10,000 bushes in 60 varieties at Yatadera Temple (www.yatadera.or.jp/index.html , 0743-53-1445) in Yamato Koriyama for ¥400 for adults and ¥200 for elementary school children; and 10,000 bushes in 50 varieties at Mimurotoji Temple (www.mimurotoji.com/index.php , 0774-21-2067) in Uji for ¥500 for adults and ¥300 for children.
Hasedera Temple in Sakurai (www.hasedera.or.jp , 0744-47-7001) and Sanzen-in Temple in Kyoto (www.sanzenin.or.jp , 075-744-2531) are also popular for their hydrangeas.
Big day at Osu Kannon Banshoji in Nagoya
Shoppers in the Osu Kannon Banshoji street arcade in Nagoya will be treated to a drum performance at 2:40 p.m. June 28 usually used to announce the beginning of sumo matches, followed at 5 p.m. by a contest among well-known chefs to create handcrafted ice sculptures. Admission is free.
The arcade is located near Kamimaezu Station on the Meijo and Tsurumai subway lines and Osu Kannon Station on the Tsurumai subway line.
For more information, check out www.nagoya-info.jp/event/center/jtAEKZ69.html (in Japanese) or call 052-261-7944.
Stargazing night at Nagoya Science Museum
The Nagoya City Science Museum is holding a stargazing session July 20 in which participants will be able to observe the moon and Saturn through the museum's large telescope.
The session runs from 6:45 p.m. to 9 p.m. and costs ¥700 for adults and ¥300 for junior high and elementary school students.
Reservations must be made by sending a reply-paid post card by June 29 by following the details at www.ncsm.city.nagoya.jp/visit/attraction/starparty/night/h25.html (in Japanese).
The museum is a five-minute walk from Fushimi Station on the Higashiyama and Tsurumai subway lines. For more information, call 052-201-4486.