During the summer, I usually love to go out and find Bon Odoris to dance to, but this year, it had been so hectic, I wasn't sure I was going to be able to go at all. I was so grateful to have caught wind of a bon odori happening at a temple in downtown Osaka.
There are two major Buddhist temples in downtown Osaka, Kita Mido and Minami Mido temples, both on Osaka's Midosuji Boulevard; Osaka's very own "Main Street." To be sure, these temples are the street's very namesake. Every summer, a major Bon Odori is held at one of these temples. This year, the event took place at Kita Mido Temple, literally called "Temple of the North."
The temples have slightly different architecture. While Minami Mido Temple is at street level, Kita Mido Temple is built higher, and visitors need to climb up a flight of stairs to get to the main grounds. I took pictures of the venue, and I'm sharing them here.
Steps from Midosuji Blvd. leading to Kita Mido Temple
Yagura on the temple grounds
The singer that evening; Kawachiya Kikusuimaru
The bon odori was held on the temple grounds at the foot
of another flight of stairs before getting to the main building.
Bon odoris at major venues like this one are already packed as it is, but what made the venue even more packed was the fact that famed Kawachi Ondo singer Kawachiya Kikusuimaru made the scene. He is quite possibly the most famous singer of this song, and followers will flock wherever he goes. I'm happy that I was able to go to a bon odori, and glad that for my one and only bon odori this year, the singer was none other than Kawachiya Kikusuimaru.
Until next year...
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