GIon Festival (Gion Matsuri)
Gion Festival (Gion Matsuri)
‘Gion Matsuri’ (Gion Festival) is one of the three major festivals in Kyoto.
It is a traditional Shinto ritual performed for one month from July 1 (吉符入り) to 31st (疫神社夏越祭) every year.
It is very crowded with many tourists from all over Japan and all over the world.
The most famous are Yoiyama (宵山) and Yamahoko Junko (山鉾巡行).
The picture on the left shows Yoiyama and the picture below shows Yamahoko Junko. Shijo-dori Street became a pedestrian zone, and many stalls were lined up.
Yoiyama is called “pedestrian paradise” on the night of 15 and 16th every year for 3 busy days.
Yoiyama (宵山), the day before Yoiyama is called (宵々山: Yoiyoiyama), the day before Yoiyama is called (宵々々山: Yoiyoiyoiyama), and the highlight is Yoiyama, which is the busiest with crowds and stalls.
Example:July 14 to 16th is called [14: Yoiyoiyama, 15: Yoiyoiyama, 16: Yoiyama].
●The pre-festival (Saki no Matsuri Festival): Yoiyama (July 14 – 16th), Yamahoko Junko (July 17)
●Ato Matsuri (Ato no matsuri): Yoiyama (July 21 – 23rd), Yamahoko Junko (July 24)
Various events are held throughout the month, so you can fully enjoy the lively atmosphere of the festival!
Yamahoko Junko
Yamahoko Junko
Highlights of the Gion Festival: The Yamahoko Junko is divided into the pre-festival and the post-festival,
with a total of 33 Yamahoko floats parading in Kyoto between Shijo and Karasuma Oike.
Each Yamahoko is decorated with Japanese and foreign arts and crafts and is
designated as an important tangible folk cultural property.
All 33 of them are decorated differently, so it’s fun to watch them.
The order of Yamahoko Junko is decided by “lottery drawing ceremony”.
The mountain that always leads the Yamahoko Junko every year as "Kuji torazu". It is the only hoko (float) on which chigo is riding now. The procession begins with "Shimenawa-kiri".
Also called "Kamakari Mountain" it is the only karakuri yama in the Gion Festival where mantises' feathers and sickles move.
This mountain was built based on the historical event that Hakuga, who was a master of Kin (a long Japanese zither with thirteen strings) during the Zhou period in China, refused the strings of the Kin when she heard the death of Jongshi, who understood her Kin.
Yoiyama
Yoiyama
In the eve of the pre-festival festival (July 14 – 16), each Yamahoko floats are lit with lanterns at night,
and the lively Gion Bayashi with the sound of “conchicine” resonates and creates a festive atmosphere.
It is a pedestrian paradise that is held only for two days in Yoiyama of the previous festival. As it gets darker, more and more people come out and it becomes lively.
Gion Festival is a big festival of Yasaka Shrine, so it was crowded with many people.
It is Yoiyama on the night of pedestrian paradise. It is said that there are so many people and passers-by are also one-way traffic, so once you enter this flow, you will not be able to get out ・・・ This is an experience story.
Why don’t you come to the Gion Festival in Kyoto, one of the three major festivals in Japan? When you come to Kyoto, it will be very hot in July because of the midsummer after the rainy season, so please drink plenty of water and prevent heat stroke!
