Written by Aarohi Narain
Hanezu Odori at Zuishin-in Temple is an annual festival marking the arrival of spring.
What happens?
Held on the last Sunday of March each year, this traditional event honors Ono no Komachi, a Heian-period poet known for her beauty and tragic love story.
Local schoolgirls perform carefully choreographed dances set to koto instrumental music, depicting the tale of Komachi and her admirer, Fukakusa no Shōshō. According to legend, Shōshō visited Komachi for one hundred nights to prove his devotion.
Taste freshly pounded mochi and traditional uirō candy, served in bamboo tubes, and admire Hanezu no ume, a variety of pink plum blossoms.
Top tip: They also have plum-scented temple stamps (goshuin) when the plum blossoms are in bloom.
Schedule 2025
The Hanezu Odori is staged four times during the day at 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3 p.m. Following each performance, two young women perform the Zuishin Imayō, a dance inspired by Heian-era entertainers.
Tickets
Admission costs ¥1,000 per person.
How to get there
From Kyoto Station, take the Karasuma Line to Karasuma Oike Station, transfer to the Kyoto Subway Tōzai Line, and travel to Ono Station. From there, it’s an 8-minute walk to Zuishin-in Temple. The whole journey should take about 35 minutes.
Alternatively, take the Tokaido-Sanyo Line to Yamashina, then transfer to the Kyoto Subway Tōzai Line, and follow the same directions as above. This route takes about the same time.
Organizers may cancel events, alter schedules, or change admission requirements without notice. Always check official sites before heading to an event.Add to Calendar
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Adults:
At the door: ¥1,000
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Students:
At the door: ¥800