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The Gion Festival is a summer tradition in Kyoto that has lasted for more than a thousand years.
Kyoto Various Shinto rituals are held in various parts of the city for one month. Let's hope for a disease-free life this year and experience the atmosphere of the lively festival locally.
Main Schedule of the Gion Festival
- 1 day（Tue.）
- *Not open to the public
- 2 days（Wed.）
- Lottery type *Not open to the public
- 5 days（Sat.）
- Nagatoboko Children's Dance Performance
(15:30~) - 7th（Mon.）
- Ayakasaboko Children's Shrine Visit
(14:30~ / Yasaka Shrine) - 9th（Wed.）
- Pre-festival float erection
(Until the 14th / each Yamahoko town)
Conger conger dedication festival
(14:00~ / Yasaka Shrine) - 10 days（Thu.）
- Lanterns
(16:30~/Yasaka Shrine → Shijo → City Hall → Shijo Yasaka Shrine → Yasaka Shrine)
Mikoshi Washing Ceremony
(20:00〜 / Shijo Ohashi) - 12 days（Sat.）
- First float pulling and carrying ceremony
(Until the 13th / each Yamahoko town) - 13th（Sun.）
- Visit to the Nagatoboko Children's Shrine
(11:00~/Yasaka Shrine) - 14 days（Mon.）
- Pre-festival Yoiyama
(Until the 16th / each Yamahoko town)
folding screen festival
(Until the 16th / Volunteer townhouse) - 17th（Thu.）
- Pre-festival Yamahoko parade
Shinko Festival and Mikoshi Procession
(From 16:00 / Yasaka Shrine) - 18th（Fri.）
- After the festival: Erecting floats
(Until the 21st / each Yamahoko town) - 20th（Sun.）
- After the festival: First float pulling and carrying
(Until the 21st / each Yamahoko town) - 21st（Hol）
- After Festival Yoiyama
(Until the 23rd / each Yamahoko town)
folding screen festival
(Until the 23rd / Volunteer townhouse) - 23rd（Wed.）
- Biwa offering
(13:00~ / Yasaka Shrine)
Ohake Purification Ceremony
(14:00~/Mata Travel Agency) - 24th（Thu.）
- After-Festival: Pilgrimage to the Mountains
(9:30~/Oike-dori→Kawaramachi-dori→ Shijo Dori)
Umbrella Parade
(Around 9:30~/Shimogyo Junior High School Seitoku Gakusha →Yasaka Shrine)
Returning Blessing Festival, Shrine Passing Shrine
(17:00〜/Yasaka Shrine, → Inn) - 25th（Fri.）
- Kyogen Dedication
(11:00~/Yasaka Shrine) - 28th（Mon.）
- Mikoshi Washing Ceremony
(20:00~/ Shijo Ohashi) - 31 days（Thu.）
- Eki Shrine Summer Festival
(From 10:00 / Yasaka Shrine grounds, Eki Shrine)
*The dates of events such as the entry of lucky charms, erection of the Yamahoko floats, and the first pulling and carrying of the floats vary depending on the Yamahoko town.
*The dates of the Byobu Festival vary depending on each household (business).
吉符入(Ticketいり)
This is the first ritual of the Gion Festival. Starting from July 1st, each Yamahoko town prays for the safety of the Gion Festival. At the same time, Gion bayashi music practice is also held.
Lottery system
An event that determines the order of the pilgrimage. Kyoto It will be held in the presence of the mayor. The mountain that follows the long sword of the "no lot" that leads the procession is called "Mt. Ichiban" and is considered auspicious and honorable.
Yamahoko-tate (floor construction)
After July 9th, you can watch the construction of the Yamahoko floats all over the streets. They are assembled using a technique called "rope tying," which does not require a single nail. Also pay attention to the first Yamahoko pulling and carrying, where they check to see if the floats can move without any problems.
Welcoming lanterns
To welcome the mikoshi, a procession of about 500 people carrying many lanterns parades through the streets playing Gion bayashi music.
Yoiyama (first festival)
When the komagata lanterns are lit up, the area is filled with a festival atmosphere. At each Yamahoko town, lucky charms such as chimaki are given out. Depending on the float, you may be able to climb up by purchasing a gift.
Yamahoko float procession (pre-festival float procession)
The Yamahoko Procession is also known as a "moving art museum," and 23 extravagantly decorated Yamahoko floats parade through the streets of Kyoto. Be sure to check out the "Shimenawa-kiri" (trimming rope) performed by the Nagatoboku, as well as the "Tsuji-mawashi" (turning of the floats) where they change direction at intersections.
Yamahoko Procession Pre-Festival: Tsukihoko
Shinkosai Festival
Three mikoshi carrying the deities of Yasaka Shrine departed from Yasaka Shrine and crossed the clan area to the inn in Shijo town amid the shouts of "Hoitto, Hoitto". The brave "giving" and "handling" that take place under the stone steps and at the intersection of Yasaka Shrine are also highlights.
Atomatsuri Yoiyama / Atomatsuri Yamahoko Procession
(Good mountain / Mountain Hoko Junko)
The Ato Matsuri has a more relaxed atmosphere with no outdoor stalls. During Yoiyama, you can enjoy the fantastic sight of komagata lanterns lit up on the floats, as well as the Byobu Matsuri in each float town. During the Yamahoko Procession, the Ato Matsuri floats clear the streets in preparation for the Kanko Festival. Please note that the procession route runs in the opposite direction to the Mae Matsuri.
Flower Umbrella Parade
A gorgeous procession of about 1,000 people parades with flower umbrellas, which are said to be the origin of Yamahoko, floats with maiko on them, lion dances, heron dances, and more. After returning to Yasaka Shrine, a performance is dedicated to the shrine. In 1966, when the Yamahoko processions of the Maematsuri and Atomatsuri became a joint procession on the 17th, this procession started as a replacement for the Yamahoko procession on the 24th.
Kankosai (return festival)
The portable shrine leaves the shrine and heads for Yasaka Shrine. At around midnight, the lights in the shrine grounds are turned off and a quiet ceremony is held to return the sacred spirit of the deity to the main hall.
Ekijinja Shrine Summer Festival
At Yasaka Shrine, go through a large circle of thatch and pray for a safe life. The summer festival that can be seen in various parts of Kyoto is derived from an anecdote about the deity of Yasaka Shrine.
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Yasaka Shrine Festival
When you think of the Gion Festival, many people may think of the Yamahoko Junko procession, in which large floats move one after another. However, the original purpose of the festival is for the deity of Yasaka Shrine to ride in a portable shrine and parade through the parishioner area. The Yamahoko Junko procession is held to clear the streets before the portable shrine makes its way through the area.
Yasaka Shrine
境内自由
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Pre- and Post-Festivals
The Yamahoko Junko procession is held twice, in conjunction with the Shinkosai and Kankosai festivals. The first festival is to clear the way for the gods to travel to the shrine, and the second festival is to clear the way for them to return. There was a time when both were combined into one day, but now it is held in its traditional form.
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Three portable shrines
There are three mikoshi, each of which enshrines a different deity.
Nakagoza
A portable shrine with a phoenix on its hexagonal roof, it enshrines the main deity, Susanoo-no-Mikoto.Higashigoza (East Throne)
It has a square roof and enshrines Kushinadahime-no-mikoto, the wife of Susanoo-no-Mikoto.Nishigoza
The octagonal roof enshrines the eight children of Susanoo, known as the Yahashira no Mikogami.