Deities from Japan, China, and India evolved into the Seven Lucky Gods, who are popularly depicted aboard a treasure ship. A pilgrimage of seven temples and shrines, each dedicated to one of the deities, is said to have originated in Kyoto for believers to receive blessings from them all. Recently, the pilgrimage has sparked a boom in shrine and temple visits, with worshippers collecting Goshuin seals as proof of their journey. Discover the energizing belief in these deities in Kyoto, today.

Forty-one ritual folk dances from around Japan were added to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity List in 2022. The Kuta Hanagasa Dance is performed in a rural community in the very north of Kyoto city. Every summer, the men make flower lanterns by hand to be used in the ritual as they sing and dance to a drum accompaniment before the local deities in gratitude for a plentiful harvest. Discover the Kuta villagers' lifestyle and follow their preparations for the ritual.