祇園祭 Gion Matsuri

Background

Gion Matsuri is the annual festival of Yasaka Shrine, running the whole month of July, from Kippu-iri on July 1 to the Ekijinja Nagoshi-sai on July 31. It consists of shrine rites organized by Yasaka Shrine and the yamaboko float events organized by the float neighborhoods; the latter are designated a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property. The festival traces its origins to goryo-e rites held to quell epidemics (the Gion Goryo-e), and was revived time and again by townspeople after interruptions over its long history.

What to see

• Saki-matsuri float procession (July 17, from 9:00 a.m.): 23 floats parade through the parish districts, led by the Naginata-hoko.
• Ato-matsuri float procession (July 24, from 9:30 a.m.): 11 floats led by the Hashibenkei-yama, taking the reverse route of the saki-matsuri.
• Yoiyama evenings (July 14–16 for saki-matsuri, July 21–23 for ato-matsuri): floats lit up, Gion-bayashi music performed, and old merchant houses display treasured folding screens (Byobu Matsuri).
• Shinko-sai (July 17, rites from 4:00 p.m.) and Kanko-sai (July 24, from around 4:00 p.m.): three mikoshi travel between Yasaka Shrine and the Shijo Otabisho.
• Chimaki: talismans sold around the floats during yoiyama, hung at doorways to ward off epidemics; they are not food.

Timeline

Jul 9–14

Building of saki-matsuri floats (saki-matsuri neighborhoods)

Jul 12–13

Trial pulling of saki-matsuri floats

Jul 14–16

Saki-matsuri yoiyama (saki-matsuri neighborhoods)

Jul 17, 9:00 a.m.–

Saki-matsuri yamaboko procession (parish districts)

Jul 17, 4:00 p.m.–

Shinko-sai mikoshi procession (Yasaka Shrine – Shijo Otabisho)

Jul 18–21

Building of ato-matsuri floats

Jul 21–23

Ato-matsuri yoiyama

Jul 24, 9:30 a.m.–

Ato-matsuri yamaboko procession (parish districts)

Jul 24, around 4:00 p.m.–

Kanko-sai mikoshi procession (Shijo Otabisho – Yasaka Shrine)

Jul 31, 10:00 a.m.–

Ekijinja Nagoshi-sai (Ekijinja, Yasaka Shrine grounds)

How to watch

• The processions can be watched free from the roadside. The Kyoto City Tourism Association sets up paid reserved seats along Oike-dori; part of the proceeds funds the festival's preservation.
• During yoiyama the floats can be viewed up close. On the evenings of July 15–16 the downtown area becomes a pedestrian zone with street stalls; there is no pedestrian zone or stalls on July 14 or during ato-matsuri yoiyama (July 21–23).
• Parasols, umbrellas and tripods are prohibited in the reserved seats; bring a raincoat and take heat precautions, and take your trash home.

Getting there

The processions pass along Oike-dori; reserved seats are between Kawaramachi-Oike and Shinmachi-Oike (saki-matsuri) and around Karasuma-Oike and between Teramachi-Oike and Kawaramachi-Oike (ato-matsuri), near Karasuma-Oike and Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae subway stations. The yoiyama float neighborhoods are around Shijo-Karasuma.

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