cancer81 wrote:
the big bell which is rung on New Year's Day is only for temple monks iirc besides the ceremony takes place on New Year's Day not CNY
you do ring a bell as part of the praying step at Shinto shrines though
Fushimi Inari is on the south side of Kyoto, I am not sure if you can rent kimono around that part. Gion is nearer Kyomizudera area instead (if that is what you are referring to as the old street)
I would say call ahead and book but I do not have any recommendations, you can try looking up tabelog. They got english site now
i remember I saw more tourists in kimono in Higashiyama area than Fushimi Inari. The ambiance and the japanese-feel maybe is stronger there.
