Core Kyoto

Paper talismans protecting against fire are common sights in Kyoto homes. People receive them at Atago Jinja, situated on top of a rugged mountain. The shrine holds Sennichi-mairi, or the 1,000-day pilgrimage, on the evening of July 31. Worshippers believe that if they make the grueling trek they have 1,000 days' worth of protection against fire-related disasters. Discover the deep faith in Atago as more than 10,000 Kyotoites undertake the pilgrimage with gratitude for the gifts fire bestows.

All Episodes - Season 4

Episode 1

Kyo-yaki: Kyoto Ceramics Charm and Delight the Beholder

Episode 2

Suiseki: A World of Understated Beauty Within Natural Stone

Episode 3

Kyo-Kanoko Shibori: Untying the Beauty Bound Within

Episode 4

Small Restaurants: A Full, Rich Experience While Sipping Sake

Episode 5

Obi: Unbridled Beauty in a Knot

Episode 6

Traditional Musical Instruments: Eternal Tones Waft Through the Ancient Capital

Episode 7

Woodblock Prints: Beauty in the Hands of a Trinity of Artists

Episode 8

Tsubo-niwa: Life Enhanced by Quintessential Spaces

Episode 9

Insho Domoto: The Pulsing Heart of Artistic Innovation

Episode 10

Hidden Treasures: Preserved for Another Millennium

Episode 11

Kyoto Walls: Elegance Molded from Earth

Episode 12

Kata-yuzen: The Stenciled Beauty of Dyeing

Episode 13

Cool Customs: Beating the Summer Heat

Episode 14

Atago Sennichi Mairi: Pilgrimage to the Guardian Against Fire

Episode 15

Kiyomizu Rokubey: Tradition and Vision in Ceramics

Episode 16

Stone Jizo: Neighborhood Guardians Watch Over Children

Episode 17

The Cinema Capital: The Professionals Behind the Samurai Filming Industry

Episode 18

Fusuma Paintings: Artful Partitions Transform Space

Episode 19

Yase Shamenchi Odori: A Dance of Gratitude

Episode 20

Iwakura Fire Festival: The Divine Spirit Returns