What is Gion Matsuri ?

2. What is GionMatsuri? • A festival held in Kyoto, Japan for the entire month of July. • All events are funded, arranged, and performed by the citizens on Kyoto. • The festival is to celebrate a Shinto priest who appeased the gods, and ended the plague of 869 A.D.

3. GionMatsuriFestival Schedule and Locations • The GionMatsuri is a month-long series of events. However, many of the events are relatively small and of only local interest. The events of most interest to travelers are listed here. • 14 July (dusk to 10pm):Yoi-yoi-yoi-yama street party, Shijo-dori • 15 July (dusk to 10pm):Yoi-yoi-yama street party, Shijo-dori • 16 July (dusk to 10pm):Yoi-yama street party, Shijo-dori • 17 July (9am to 11.30am): Main float procession (Yamaboko Junko), downtown streets • 21 July (dusk to 10pm):Yoi-yoi-yoi-yama street party, Shijo-dori • 22 July (dusk to 10pm):Yoi-yoi-yama street party, Shijo-dori • 23 July (dusk to 10pm):Yoi-yama street party, Shijo-dori • 24 July (9.30am to 11.30am): Second float procession (AtoMatsuriYamaboko Junko), downtown streets

4. Floats and History The word Yamaboko refers to the two types of floats used in the procession: the 23 yama and 10 hoko. One of the main reasons the GionMatsuri is so impressive is the enormity of the hoko, which are up to 25 meters tall, weigh up to 12 tons, and are pulled on wheels as big as people. Both yama and hoko are elaborately decorated and represent unique themes. The procession on July 17 features 23 yama and hoko, including most of the particularly impressive hoko, while the procession on July 24 features the remaining ten yama and hoko.

5. Yama and Hoko Festival Floats The GionMatsuri is centered on a collection of 32 magnificent parade floats known collectively as “yamaboko”. Of these, there are 9 enormous “yama” floats and 23 smaller (but still grand) “hoko” floats. Some of the yama weigh as much as 12 tons and soar to 25 meters in height (when measured to the tip of their long central poles). The floats are built of superbly crafted wood and decorated with sumptuous Nishijin textiles. Resting on wheels as large as a man, each one is a movable collection of some of Kyoto’s finest craftsmanship and artistry. 

6. Yoi-Yama Evening Street Parties

7. Yoi-Yama Evening Street Parties A few days before each procession, the yamaboko are brought out of warehouses and assembled in designated spots on the major downtown streets of Kyoto (the main one being Shijo-dori Street between the Kamo-gawa River and Horikawa-dori). On the three evenings before each procession (14/15/16 July and 21/22/23 July), these streets are closed to vehicle traffic and people promenade around the yamaboko carousing, eating and drinking. These events are called Yoi-yoi-yoi-yama, Yoi-yoi-yama and Yoi-yama, respectively. Many young ladies and some young men wear light cotton yukata robes, which makes these events very picturesque.

8. The Main Event: The Float Procession of 17 July Starting at 9am on 17 July, 23 of the huge yama and hoko are hauled from their staging places around the Shijo-Karasama intersection east along Shijo-dori, then north along Kawaramachi-dori, before turning west on Oike-dori. The official endpoint is at the Oike-Karasuma intersection. The procession ends around 11.30am. There are official viewing stands on Oike-dori, but there’s no need to try to get tickets to one of those. You can watch the procession at any point along the route. Perhaps the most interesting places to watch are near the corners, where you can observe the painstaking process of making these massive floats change direction. 

9. The AtoMatsuri (After Matsuri): The Float Procession of July 24 (AtoMatsuri Junko) In 2014, for the first time in almost 50 years, a second float procession was held. This second procession is known as the “AtoMatsuri,” which means “After Matsuri.” The event will now be held annually. This is a smaller procession in which only 10 of the yamaboko are pulled through the streets of downtown Kyoto. In this event, the yamaboko are pulled along a route that is the reverse of the main procession’s route. The procession starts at 9.30am and ends around 11.30am. 

10. Quick Facts • GionMatsuri is held over a period of one month in July • The main processions take place on July 17 (SamaMatsuri Junko) and July 24 (AtoMatsuri Junko) • The biggest floats in the parade are known as yamaboko and weigh up to 12 tons

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