Famous Yokai Street exists in the capital during the Heian PeriodThe most powerful yin-yang master of the Heian period. The most powerful yin-yang master of the Heian period.Abe no Seimei era (1789.1.25-1789.1.25)Ichijo Oji, now Ichijo Oji, leads to Ichijo Gebashi Bridge, where(a)venue of one's ownIt is. This street was at the timeNorthernmost part of Heiankyoand beyond that, it hits thea land of other worlds for city dwellersIt was a "yokai street" in the 1960s. Even today, the Ichijo-dori Oshogun shopping street is still a yokai street, with unique yokai objects in front of each store, playing a role in "town revitalization".

Daishogun Shopping Street (Ichijo Yokai Street)

Specter standing in front of the store

By the way, at that time, the capital hadIn addition to Ichijo Oji, there is one more spot where Hyakki Yakko can be found.The aristocrats of the Heian period (794-1185) were said to be terribly afraid of passing through there at night. It is said that the nobles of the Heian period were terribly afraid of passing through there at night. It was at the southeast corner of Ouchiura, at the intersection of Nijo Oji and Omiya Oji.

This street is the back gate of Ouchiura,Awawa no tsuji.The name "Tsuji" is said to have come from the sight of a man running away at once, screaming "ahwah! The name of the somewhat unique street is said to have come from the sight of a man who was startled by an encounter with a night parade of one hundred demons and ran away at once with a cry of "ahwah. ......

The "Hyakki Yagyo" refers to the procession of yokai (monsters) roaming in a line,If you run into them, you'll get very sick or, if you're unlucky, you'll die.It is irresistible because it is said.

Moreover, this "Awawa-no-Tsuji" is also a street associated with Abe no Seimei. It is said that when Seimei was still a child, he was walking with his master, Kamo Tadayuki, when he was confronted by a nightly ghost.

The "Konjaku Monogatari-shu" and "Dai-kagami" tell a story of an aristocrat who survived a night attack by 100 demons at this street because he had a protective charm of Son-sho-darani sewn onto his robe. The Son-sho-Darani talisman was also said to have shown its power against the nightly invasions of demons on Ichijo-oji Street, where the talisman caught fire, causing the demons to panic and flee.

At the time, it was believed that specters would walk outanniversary of a person's death (on which Buddhist commemorative rites, etc. are performed)The night of the day was called "abeyance night," and people avoided going out on that night as much as possible. The medieval encyclopedic book "Shugaishou" actually describes the day of abstinence, so it could not be laughed off as a superstition.

Hyakki Yakko Emaki" (One Hundred Demon Nights Picture Scrolls)
(Reprinted from the Diet Digital Collections)

Now, I turned my attention to the current "Awawa-no-Tsuji". Unfortunately (!?), the street itself was lost. Unfortunately, the street itself was lost. The Nijo-Omiya-no-Tsuji that existed in the Heian period (794-1185) has now been incorporated into the castle grounds of Nijo Castle. When I visited Nijo Castle, even though the cherry blossoms were only in their fifth bloom, the castle was crowded with tourists, including some from abroad. Nowhere did I feel that I was about to encounter a Hyakki Yagyo.

The southeast corner of Ouchiura is Nijo Castle.

Then,Where have all the yokai gone that have lost their place in the human world where they can travel at night with impunity?

Perhaps, after a thousand years, he is still hiding in a corner of Kyoto, waiting for the opportunity to surprise and bewitch people once again.

The city is bright and shining all night long, but when you turn down an alley, you often feel as if something mysterious is lurking in the shadows. The shadows of a townhouse, an old tree unnaturally left in a corner of a building, a northeast demon repellent on a newly built condominium, an ikezu stone at the corner of a house, etc. These are all things that allow the presence of mononoke. These are the unique characteristics of Kyoto, a city that has the capacity to tolerate the presence of mononoke.

Late at night when the cherry blossom viewing season is in full swing, you may encounter a hundred nightly ghosts who are lured by tipsy cherry blossom watchers who have come out to enjoy the blossoms. ......