Risshisha

Hello. This is Wakamatsu.

How are you spending the last day of the long weekend?

On July 16, during the Gion Festival, I had the opportunity to attend the tea offering
ceremony at Yasaka Shrine with our Executive Vice President, Imazu.

Today, I'd like to share a few highlights from this special event.

It had been a long time since I last attended a tea ceremony,so I felt a little nervous.
But the friendly atmosphere soon helped me relax.

The sweet served with the tea was Hamazuto,
made by Kameya Norikatsu, a long-established Japanese sweets shop in Kyoto.
It is a traditional summer sweet that has been enjoyed since the Taisho era.

Inside the sweet is a small Hama-natto bean wrapped in clear agar jelly.
The jelly has a firm yet refreshing texture, while the sweet and salty flavor of the bean creates a rich and unique taste.

After enjoying a bowl of matcha and a pleasant conversation,
the tea gathering came to a close.

When you think of the Gion Festival,
one of the first things that comes to mind is the chimaki.

A chimaki is a traditional charm made from bamboo leaves,
believed to protect against bad luck and illness.

This year, we are once again displaying a
Naginata-boko chimaki at our front desk.

Today, we'd like to introduce one of our newly opened accommodations.

It is conveniently located near famous attractions such as Kiyomizu-dera Temple,
Yasaka Shrine, Kennin-ji Temple, and Minamiza Theatre,
making it a great base for sightseeing in Kyoto.

If you're planning to visit Kyoto for the Gozan no Okuribi or
next year's Gion Festival, we'd love to welcome you.

As we accept only one group per day,
we recommend making your reservation early.