Shameless plug for one of the best little matsuri in Kyoto that I help out with.
https://www.otagiji.com/autumn-festival-about
Otagi Nenbutsuji, known for it's 1200 mossy statues of lively little Buddhist figures, is located in the Sagano district north of Arashiyama. Every autumn, they hold a Momiji Matsuri where chants are sung in a beautiful 14th century wooden hall that was transported from the old temple grounds near Gion.
The highlight is when yamabushi priests dressed as tengu real live tengu come down from Mt. Atago. They shoot arrows into the sky and bless the visitors individually. This is also an exceedingly rare chance to take a picture with these notoriously camera-shy mythological figures.
The crowd this event draws has only grown from tiny to small in the past years, and it still feels like a very intimate and local event. You are invited to join us on this coming Sunday the 12th at 13:00.
Parking is limited, you will need to arrive quite early. It's better to take a bus from central Arashiyama. You can catch one from Arashiyama Tenryuji Mae bus stop (across the street from Randen Arashiyama Station) but it runs only once an hour. Bus #94 departs at 12:18 and arrives at 12:31. Besides that, a taxi from JR Saga-Arashiyama is suggested, but arrive early as taxis on weekends in Arashiyama in this season can be hard to come by. It's about a 1200 yen ride from the station.
Note that this is OTAGI Nenbutusji, not ADASHI Nenbutsuji
If you've always wanted to go up to Otagi and see the statues, this is THE time of year to do it. Hope to see you there. It's a wonderful experience.
by mindkiller317