Moon watching

1. Chushu-no-meigetsu (harvest moon) is a beloved sight around August 15 in the old Japanese calendar (mid-September in the modern calendar). About this time of year, the full moon appears especially majestic in the clear sky and air. This attracts many enthusiasts to a spectacular night of moon watching.

2. “Evening of Kangetsu” is a special event during Chushu-no-meigetsu. Kyoto people enjoy moon watching while savoring green tea, seated in boats called gekisu-bune in the Osawa-ike pond at Daikaku-ji temple. This is known as one of Three Greatest Moon Observation Spots in Japan.

3. The Japanese custom of moon watching is believed to have originated during the Heian Era. According to ancient lore, the Evening of Kangetsu began in the early 9th century, when the Emperor Saga provided a boat in Osawaji-ike.

4. In olden times, people believed that the moon exerts its spiritual power to grant wishes only when reflected in water or a mirror. Thus, it became more popular to observe the moon on the surface of a pond or in a glass of sake, rather than viewing it directly. So if you join the Evening of Kangetsu, look for not only the radiant full moon in the night sky, but also its serene image reflected in the placid water of a pond.

2013-02-15 02:27:03
so, so cool. would love to do this, with Luna! lol MOON WATCHING : http://www.ana-cooljapan.com/traditions/ Do you think Moon watching of Japan is cool? Visit our special site and vote! Real Japan is even cooler! Why don’t you visit Japan on All Nippon Airways?
2013-02-19 04:34:00
MOON WATCHING : http://www.ana-cooljapan.com/traditions/ Do you think Moon watching of Japan is cool? Visit our special site and vote! Real Japan is even cooler! Why don’t you visit Japan on All Nippon Airways?
2013-02-24 01:55:37
I never knew about this! What a simple pleasure to watch the moon! Drinking green tea and relaxing on a boat. Beautiful! MOON WATCHING : http://www.ana-cooljapan.com/traditions/ Do you think Moon watching of Japan is cool? Visit our special site and vote! Real Japan is even cooler! Why don’t you visit Japan on All Nippon Airways?
132
7
32
Shohekiga
障壁画
Mizuura Mikuji
水占みくじ
Inspiration of Buddha Statues
仏像
Antique fair
東寺弘法市
Shrine visit
参拝
Sushi-go-round
回転寿司
Paper fortune
おみくじ
Iced coffee
アイス珈琲
Yakatabune
屋形船
Architecture Street
建築ストリート
Scramble crossing
スクランブル交差点
Gundam 1/1
ガンダム1/1
Utaki
御嶽
Mango
マンゴー
Sanshin
三線
Shuri Castle
首里城
Brazil
Final Fantasy VI
Denmark
Super Mario Bros.
Japan
Suite PreCure
Italy
Neon Genesis EVANGELION
Outdoor girl finds kawaii in a sleeping bag.
Toybox kawaii shop shows people power.
I want to create awesome kawaii nail art.
Harajuku girl leads next-generation kawaii.
VACUUM TUBE HEADPHONES
a key item to bridge dreams and reality
OTAKU CAMERA
the app that makes anyone a manga character
OSAMU TEZUKA
creator of Japan’s manga and anime cultures
ANIME PILGRIMAGE
a quest to visit locations relating to stories and characters
Candycrafts
あめ細工
Picks
楊枝
Cosmetics
化粧品
Nishikigoi
錦鯉
SOBA
蕎麦
KATSUOBUSHI
鰹節
TEMPURA
天婦羅
ODEN
おでん
Nerhol
YAYOI KUSAMA
TAKU OBATA
HISASHI TENMYOUYA
NACHI-NO-OGI MATSURI
MENBURYU
NIIHAMA TAIKO MATSURI
AWA ODORI
NIHONBUYO
日本舞踊
KARATEDO
空手
NOH
KENDO
剣道
FOOD MODEL CRAFTSMAN
食品サンプル職人
KACCHU-SHI
甲冑師
SAMURAI AVATAR
侍アバター
SUKIYA-DAIKU
数寄屋大工
GAME CREATOR
GAME CREATOR
FAMILY COMPUTER / NES
Family Computer / NES
SPACE INVADERS
SPACE INVADERS
e-Sports
e-Sports