Introducing some great summer events in Nara!

Thank you very much for using NARAMAKI.

This time, I've written about summer events in Nara.

Our company is located in Nara Prefecture, and we hold many fascinating events.

Although it's a hot summer, this is a recommended spot in Nara for those who want to experience Nara.

What is deer gathering?

The "Deer Calling" takes place at a place called Tobihino, located on the south side of the approach to Kasuga Taisha Shrine. When the natural horn is played, the sound attracts many deer from deep within the forest.

The deer that gather are given acorns as a reward.

This is a tranquil landscape that can only be seen in Nara. Come experience this tranquil scene surrounded by the crisp, clear morning air.

(From the Nara Deer Protection Association website )

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We also found a car belonging to the Nara Deer Protection Association.

These deer-designed donation boxes can be found all over Nara Prefecture.

If you find it, please help us by donating money to help the deer.

The Nara Toukae Festival was established in 1999. Candlelight illuminates the prayers of people who gather in Nara, a World Heritage site where time flows slowly.

"Touka" is a flower-shaped lump that forms at the end of a wick. It is said to bring good luck when it forms.

For just 10 days in the summer, candles bloom among the vast greenery and history of Nara.

May all who visit the Nara Toukae find happiness. Each candle is lit with such a wish in mind.

(From the Nara Toukae website )

This is also an event held in Nara Park. It is recommended as it can be enjoyed at night.

The photo is from when I visited last year.

This year, the event will be held from August 5th to 14th, 2025, from 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM.

The event is held in various areas of Nara Park, and each location offers a different atmosphere, so please enjoy the candle flowers in various places as much as time allows.

Please check the Nara Toukakai website for details such as dates and locations.

Kitora Tomb is a small circular tomb located in the ancient burial grounds of the imperial family and aristocrats south of Fujiwara-kyo, and is thought to have been built between the end of the 7th century and the beginning of the 8th century. In the center of the mound is a stone chamber made of 18 cut tuff stones.

During an investigation in 1983, brilliantly colored murals were discovered inside the stone chamber, confirming that this was the second such mural-painted burial mound in Japan, after Takamatsuzuka Tomb. The burial mound was designated a Special Historic Site in 2000.

Inside the stone chamber of the Kitora Tomb are murals depicting the four gods, the twelve zodiac signs, an astronomical chart, and the sun and moon. The four gods are divine beasts that rule the four directions of the heavens, and the murals are painted in the corresponding directions: Azure Dragon on the east wall, Vermilion Bird on the south wall, White Tiger on the west wall, and Black Tortoise on the north wall. At the Takamatsuzuka Tomb, the Vermilion Bird on the south wall was lost due to grave robbery, so the Kitora Tomb murals are the only place in Japan where all four gods' images are present.

Below the four gods are the twelve zodiac animals with human bodies and animal heads. Starting with the Rat in the center of the north wall, they are placed clockwise, with three on each wall in accordance with the cardinal directions. Currently, six statues have been confirmed: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Horse, Dog, and Pig.

The ceiling is decorated with an astronomical chart, with the sun painted in gold leaf to the east and the moon painted in silver leaf to the west. This astronomical chart includes circles indicating the equator and ecliptic, making it the oldest surviving example of a full-scale Chinese-style star chart in the world. The five murals were designated as national treasures in 2019.

(Quoted from the House of the Four Gods website )

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This event to display the Kitora Tomb murals is held four times a year. This summer, it will be held from July 26th (Sat) to August 24th (Sun) of 2025 (Reiwa 7), and the mural to be displayed will be the "Astronomical Map."

To participate in this event, you will need to apply, so please check the mural exhibition website , apply, and attend.

Finally, I would like to introduce some of our products. The shop at Kitora Tomb sells the Naramaki super thin belly warmer and our new product, the Four Gods PET bottle cover.

If you missed out on purchasing in store on the day, please visit our website below.

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I hope this will be an option for you when you go out in Nara during the hot summer.

We hope you have a fun summer.

Thank you very much for reading to the end.