Cool Customs: Beating the Summer Heat

Overview

Kyoto is surrounded by mountains on 3 sides, so the city is concentrated in the basin where summers are sultry. Over the centuries, Kyotoites contrived ways to stay cool. They dread the heat but revel in the traditions. Come June, they prepare themselves physically and mentally by replacing the winter fittings, holding rituals for good health, and eating sweets that resemble ice. Discover the ingenuity and aesthetic beauty behind the customs Kyotoites observe to live in harmony with nature.