Kyoto Sento Launches "Summer Twenty-Four Solar Terms Achievement Challenge!" as New Seasonal Event

"Kyoto Sento Twenty-Four Solar Terms Hot Spring Tour," a year-long rally event aimed at enjoying Kyoto's bathing culture and seasonal changes, spearheaded by Kyoto City and Kyoto Sento (Kyoto Prefecture Public Bath Business Cooperative Association), with advisor Mr. Kaoru Koyama, Representative Director of the "Yudo Culture Promotion Association," has been highly popular since its launch on December 7th last year. The main theme is the "Twenty-Four Solar Terms (Nijūshisekki)," words that describe seasonal changes, with each of the four seasons further divided into six. This project offers two courses: the "Twenty-Four Solar Terms Course," where participants collect "Twenty-Four Solar Terms Stickers" with designs that change for each term (e.g., Rikka), and the "Hot Spring Tour Course," which presents completion certificates based on the number of baths visited. In the "Hot Spring Tour Course," which covers all member baths in Kyoto City, the first person to conquer all baths appeared as early as February of this year, less than two months after its start, with passionate Kyoto Sento fans participating one after another. To further boost the enthusiasm of these Kyoto Sento fans and to allow those who have recently moved to Kyoto from spring onwards to enjoy the "Twenty-Four Solar Terms Hot Spring Tour" from mid-way, the holding of a new initiative: "Seasonal Challenges" has been decided! This project specifically limits to a certain season, and completing the "Twenty-Four Solar Terms Stickers" collectible during that period will earn all participants a novelty participation prize, and further, a chance to win wonderful prizes by lottery. The first installment is the six solar terms of summer: and their sticker collection challenge, titled "Summer Twenty-Four Solar Terms Achievement Challenge!" The event period runs for approximately three months, from "Rikka," the first solar term of summer, which begins on May 5 (Tuesday, Holiday), to "Taisho," the last solar term of summer, ending on August 6 (Thursday). This period, from the latter half of Golden Week to the summer holidays, is the perfect time to feel the transition from the fresh green of Kyoto to mid-summer, while washing away sweat at a public bath. Furthermore, the start date, May 5 (Tuesday, Holiday), is not only the first day of Rikka but also "Children's Day." It is coincidentally linked to the "Child Bath Free Project" launched as a joint initiative by Kyoto Prefecture and Kyoto City this April. The timing is convenient for participation by parents and children during Golden Week and summer vacation, making it a project enjoyable for people of all ages.