The fundraising event "Cooks4Cooks" for people in West Bengal will take place from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at Tadg's Irish Restaurant & Bar in Kyoto.
Funds will be raised through a bring-and-buy baked goods sale and a raffle for culinary related prizes. There will also be a three-course lunch for ¥1,000 in addition to carol singing and a visit from Santa Claus.
The venue is near Kyoto Shiyakushomae Station on the Tozai subway line. Further information is available at www.tadgs.com (in English) or by calling 075-212-6339.
Annual cleanup at temples in Kyoto and Nara
Yearend cleaning is being planned for some of the Buddhist temples in Kyoto and Nara.
In Kyoto, Nishi Honganji and Higashi Honganji temples will be cleaned starting at 7 a.m. and 9 a.m., respectively, on Dec. 20, and Chion-in Temple at 1 p.m. on Dec. 25. More information at kanko.city.kyoto.lg.jp/eventlist.php?event_tab=3Dall&year=3D2013&mon=th=3D12.
The cleaning session at Yakushiji Temple (www.nara-yakushiji.com/contents/nenmatunensi/index.html) in Nara will start at 1 p.m. Dec. 29.
Admission is free for the three Kyoto temples. Yakushiji charges ¥500 for adults, ¥400 for high school and junior high school students, and ¥200 for elementary school students.
Nishi Honganji can be accessed by taking city bus No. 9 from Kyoto Station. Higashi Honganji is a seven-minute walk from the station. Chion-in is an eight-minute walk from Higashiyama Station on the Tozai subway line. Yakushiji is near Nishinokyo Station on the Kintetsu Kashihara Line.
Gatherings for non-Japanese parents, kids
The Minoh Association for Global Awareness in Minoh, Osaka Prefecture, is offering non-Japanese parents and their children opportunities to get together, talk to volunteers and learn Japanese on Dec. 18 and Jan. 15 for free. The sessions will run from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
The association can be accessed by taking buses 30, 51, 55, 56, 58, 59, 66, and 79 to Onohara from Kita Senri Station on the Hankyu Senri Line.
For more information, go to mafga.or.jp/en/sun-sun-club-for-foreign-parents-kids-open/ (English). The contact number is 072-727-6912.
Famous fire festival at Akibasan Entsuji Temple
The religious fire festival, which is believed to cleanse the current year's stains, prevent fires and allow people to live longer, will take place Monday at Akibasan Entsuji Temple in Nagoya.
Everybody is welcome to walk barefoot on special wooden sticks set on fire during the festival, which starts around 7 p.m.
The temple is a three-minute walk from Temmacho Station on the Meijo subway line.
For more information, visit www.akibasan.or.jp (in Japanese) or call 0120-560-566.
An evening with Aichi's international students
The 49th International Students Evening is being held Sunday in Nagoya, hosted by the Aichi Foreign Students' Association.
During the event from 12:30 p.m. to 4:20 p.m., international students from universities in Aichi Prefecture will provide food from their home countries and entertain participants with dances and songs.
Participation is ¥500 for students and ¥1,000 for others. No reservations are required.
The venue is Nagoya International Center, which is a seven-minute walk from Nagoya Station.
To find out more about the event, check www.nic-nagoya.or.jp/en/e/archives/2473 (in English) or call 052-654-3511.