New Years in Okayama

Travel Reports by Rabbityama

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January 3, 2013 - New Years in Okayama

Lion Dance in front of Okayama Castle

Every year Okayama hosts a special event to reign in the New Year from January 1st to 3rd. Traditionally, people visit shrines at this time for hatsumode (the first shrine visit of the year), and Okayama is no exception with large crowds of people heading to Kibitsu Shrine and Saijo Inari however, this is a different sort of annual tradition held at Korakuen Garden; the release of the cranes into the garden.

On January 1st, the cranes, which are raised and bred in the garden, are let out to fly and roam around from 11am to 2pm. Watching the cranes flying around the garden is the highlight, and everyone tries to find just the right place to stand hoping to capture that perfect shot. They fly 4 or 5 times, depending on the birds and the men who handle them. Most of the flights occur at the beginning within the first hour and sometimes they do it one last time as 2 o'clock approaches.

When they're not flying, they wander around the garden. There are men who walk with them in order to make sure people don't try to touch them as well as to guide them to certain areas so that they don't remain in one spot the whole time. They do not always stand with the birds, so you can see the cranes moving freely and still get nice photos.

While the cranes roam the garden, performers play traditional music from the Enyo-tei. This is coupled with events at Okayama Castle, like the traditional lion dance. Entrance to both the garden and the castle are free on the 1st.

On January 2nd they have other events at Korakuen Garden, such as koto performances and the cranes fly again on January 3rd. It's a great place to spend New Years!

Okayama mascots, Momochi and Urachi

Crowd gathering to see the cranes

Performers in the Enyo-tei

Cranes taking flight in Korakuen Garden

Korakuen's cranes flying in the garden

Cranes exploring the garden

Cranes preening by the pond

Okayama Castle overlooking Korakuen Garden

list all posts

List of Posts:
2013/10/20 - Setouchi Triennale 2013 Autumn Session
2013/09/18 - Setouchi Triennale 2013 Summer Session (Part 2)
2013/09/18 - Setouchi Triennale 2013 Summer Session (Part 1)
2013/01/03 - New Years in Okayama
2011/11/24 - Yoshiminedera and Southwest Kyoto