Kyoto City Tourist Association@KYOTO event web magazine　

As a part of efforts to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus COVID-19, the Yamahoko-Junko parades of floats of the Gion Matsuri Festival (Originally scheduled for July 17th (Saki-Matsuri) & July 24th(Ato-Matsuri),2021 has been canceled.

Gion Matsuri is one of the largest festivals in Japan.
This festival actually started in 869, when a priest of Yasaka Shrine led a procession of people through Kyoto in an attempt to pray Shinto gods to stop the plague raged at the time. The plague soon ended but this event became the most popular festival in Kyoto.

In order to prevent further spread of the new Coronavirus infection, Hoko and Yama Tate ( Float Construction )　may be canselled.

33 floats are assembled on these days . No nail is used, they are all assembled by ropes, with the traditional method.

In order to prevent further spread of the new Coronavirus infection, Hoko & Yama Hiki-hajime ( Trial Pull ) may be canselled.

The newly constructed Hoko and Yama ( floats ) are pulled by the neighborhood as a try. Visitors also can join the pulling.

In order to prevent further spread of the new Coronavirus infection, Dento Geino hono has been canselled.

Kabuki, Koto, Biwa, Kyogen etc are performed at Yasaka Shrine.

In order to prevent further spread of the new Coronavirus infection, Yoi-Yama ( Eve of the Festival ) and Byobu Matsuri (Screen Display) may be canselled.

All the 33 Hoko and Yama(floats)are elaborately decorated with lanterns, and musicians wearing "Yukata", (summer Kimono) play rhythmical "Gion bayashi" music on the floats.
Also private houses along the streets open their doors to show their family treasures such as "Byobu (traditional folding screens)" to the people passing by.

In order to prevent further spread of the new Coronavirus infection, Yama-Hoko Junko has been canselled.

The floats are so big and heavy that bunches of bamboo are spread at each street corner to help the floats make a turn. This technique, called "Tsuji-mawashi" , adds the exciting spectacles to the procession.

In order to prevent further spread of the new Coronavirus infection, Shinko-Sai and Kanko-Sai has been canselled.

Yasaka Shrine's three Mikoshi ( portable shrines ) parade in the Gion district around 4:00PM., then are displand at an annex of the shrine. They return to Yasaka Shrine on 24th.

In order to prevent further spread of the new Coronavirus infection, Hanagasa-Junko has been canselled.

About ten large umbrellas, decorated with flowers, parade through the streets accompanied by musicians, Geisha and many other people.

• Prossesion route :
• Yasaka Shrine --> Shijo St. --> Kawaramachi St. -->
•           --> Oike St. --> Teramachi St. --> Shijo St. --> Yasaka Shrine

• [ Yasaka Shrine ]
• Tel : 075-561-6155
• Access : City Bus No.206 Gion

Homepage : http://www.kyoto-yuka.com

• For more information :
•  Kyoto city tourist information office
•  Tel. 075-343-0548

• For more information :
•  Kibune kankokai
•  Tel. 075-741-4444

• For more information :
• [ Momijiya ]   Tel. 075-871-1005

Wide selection of pottery from all over Japan.

• [ Senbon-Shakado Temple ]
• Tel : 075-461-5973
• Access : City Bus No.50 "Kamishichiken"