With the rainy season comes the water-loving hydrangea, brightening up Kyoto with a startling variety of colors that will pick you up no matter how dreary the weather may be.

On June 20th Kurama-dera holds their annual bamboo cutting ritual, the Takekiri-eshiki, held as homage to a legend about a monk of the temple and his battle with supernatural serpents, as well as a form of divination regarding the crop futures in surrounding areas.

Nagoshi no Harae, the Purification Ritual of Summer's Passing, allows people to cleanse themselves of misdeeds committed in the first half of the year and to pray for the latter half yet to come.