All over Kyoto you may come across little Buddhist Jizo statues, especially walking through the side streets and alleys. It is said that these Jizo statues saved the common people from their suffering and were considered a central part of the community in Kyoto. Long ago, many Jizo would be placed on the boundaries between neighborhoods and could be easily spotted on major roads.

In the Meiji era, however, Japan began to lean more towards western culture and ideologies. As a result, the Meiji government made a proclamation that all the Jizo statues were to be moved from the main streets and onto the properties of elementary schools and temples. As a country with the intention of joining the “civilized” worlds, they believed that old customs would make the country seem primitive.

However, to the common people, the Jizo statues held an important place in their hearts and for years they had kept alive the traditions of offering flowers and clothing them through their iconic aprons. Then the people thought "Well, if they are just going to remove them anyway, I might as well..." and moved them into plots of land they owned and hid them in alleyways.

To this day the people of the local communities hold a festival surrounding the Jizo statues. The people of the neighborhood, the people of the alleyway, will all gather and chant prayers in unison for the growth of the children. They also rotate the responsibility of caring for, cleaning, and preparing the offerings for the statues. This culture is not only tradition, but also plays a large role in bringing together the people of the surrounding areas.