The Gion Festival in Kyoto is said to be one of the three major festivals in Japan and has a history of more than 1,000 years. It is a Shinto ritual held at Yasaka Shrine (Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture) to pray for the reprieve from epidemics, and various festivals are held at Yasaka Shrine and other locations in Kyoto City during the month of July from July 1 to 31 every year. The highlight of the festival is the parade of 34 floats (23 for the Mae-matsuri and 11 for the Goto-matsuri) on July 17 and 24, and the Mikoshi-togyo (portable shrine procession) at Yasaka Shrine.
Yoiyama is the general term for the three days before, the two days before, and the day before the Yamaboko procession (July 17 and 24). It is a period of time when the Komagata lanterns of each Yamaboko town are lit, Gion music is played from the floats, and the area becomes lively and full of atmosphere.

The "Kaijo" decorations are the main attraction of Yoiyama. At the center of each float's operation, called the "town meeting place," valuable items such as gorgeous ornaments and gojintai (sacred objects), which are hung on pedestals during the procession of the floats, are displayed.
Rare carpets and other items made in China and India between the 16th and 18th centuries are used, and each float has its own unique design.
It is only in Yoiyama that you can take your time to appreciate the precious items that are not easily seen in detail during the Yamaboko procession.

During the Yoiyama period, visitors to Yasaka Shrine and floats can receive gifts such as thatchi-no-wa-mamori, chimakis, and tenugui (hand towels). Each of these gifts is associated with a deity, and one of the most popular gifts, chimaki, is a good-luck charm to ward off bad luck. Chimaki are still handmade by people in the Kyoto area. It is recommended that you visit the float of your desired blessing. Check it out before you go to the festival!

Each of the floats has its own red seal, and many visitors come to collect these precious seals, which are awarded only during Yoiyama. Also, at Yasaka Shrine, red seals are awarded only in July, the month of the Gion Festival, for the Goreikai, the origin of the Gion Festival, so visit the floats with your red seal book in hand. A voluntary payment may be required for the collection of Goshuin, so please check with them.

Mae-matsuri / Nagatohoko, Hakodani-hoko, Kikusui-hoko, Kikusui-hoko, Tsukihoko, Hosho-hoko, Hosho-zan, Moso-zan, Uraidezan, Yamabushi-san, Hailing-tenjin-san, Kakko-zan, Hakko-zan, Ashikari-san, Yutenjin-san, Kizukoyama, Taishi-san, Shirakuten-san, Mantis-yama, Iwato-zan, Aya-zanbo, Shijo-zanbo, Funaboko

Hashibenkei, Koi, Jomyo, Kuroshu, Yaku Gyoja, Suzuka, Hachiman, Kita Kannon, Minami-Kannon, Ofunaboko, Taka

During the Gion Festival, each store will release limited items. These limited items, such as sweets and Japanese accessories associated with the Gion Festival, will surely be appreciated as souvenirs of Kyoto!

The Byobu Matsuri is an annual event during the Yoiyama period of the Gion Festival in which old houses and long-established stores in Yamahoko-cho display art works and furnishings from their respective collections in an effort to cherish the traditions and culture of the town. The festival is called "Byobu Matsuri (folding screen festival)" because folding screens are often displayed, but other valuable traditional items are also displayed. Although not an official event of the Gion Festival, it is one of the highlights of the Yoiyama period that should not be missed. During this period, the front gates are removed so that the general public can enjoy the festivities. However, since this is a private event held by private residences and companies, please enjoy it with moderation. However, since this is a private event, it may be canceled without notice.

Folding screen festival
folding screen festival

Location

Sugimoto Family Residence (Ayakoji-dori Shinmachi Nishiiru): For more informationhere
Nagae Family Residence (Shinmachi-dori, Ayakoji-sagaru): For more informationhere
Chiso (Sanjo-dori Karasuma Nishi-iru): for more informationhere
Fujii Shaped (Shinmachi-dori Rokkaku-sagaru)
Hiraoka Flag Manufacturing (Shijo-dori Nishinotoin Higashi-iru)
Yokoyama Shoten (southwest corner of Nishinotoin Ayakoji)

Yamahoko floats play an important role in the Gion Festival, but did you know that ordinary tourists can also go up (ride) on some of them? For several days before the Mae and Goto festivals, visitors can board the floats from the second floor of the building called "Kaijo" of each Yamahoko, across the corridor leading to the floats. This is the only time you can get a close-up look at the floats, which are decorated with so gorgeous and gorgeous ornaments that they are said to be moving museums. It will be a special experience to look out over the city of Kyoto from the top of the float.

List of floats that can be boarded at the Gion Festival's pre-festival festivities.
*Purchase of zongzi (glutinous rice dumplings) and other goods or an admission ticket is required to ride the Yamaboko floats.

(1) Choto Hokoko
*Because women are not allowed, only men are allowed to board inside.
How to board / Purchase Chotoboko dumplings (1,000 yen)
Date/Time: July 13 (Sat) 13:00-22:00, July 14 (Sun) - 16 (Tue) 10:00-22:00

(detachable) float
How to board / Purchase goods with worship ticket
Date/Time: July 13 (Sat) 13:00 - 21:00, July 14 (Sun) - 16 (Tue) 10:00 - 21:00

(c) Hakodani Hoko
How to board / Purchase a ticket for worship (1,000 yen)
Date/Time: July 13 (Sat) 10:00-22:00, July 14 (Sun) - 16 (Tue) 9:00-22:00

4) Kikumizuhoko
How to board / Purchase zongzi with a worship ticket (1,000 yen)
Date/Time: July 13 (Sat.) - 16 (Tue.) 10:00 - 21:00

(unidentified) head of a chicken
How to board / Purchase a 500 yen worship ticket or goods with a worship ticket.
Date/Time: July 13 (Sat.) - 16 (Tue.) 10:00-22:00

six-foot-four floater (six-foot-four)
How to board / Purchase a 500 yen worship ticket or goods with a worship ticket.
Date/Time: July 13 (Sat) 18:00-22:00, July 14 (Sun)-16 (Tue) 12:00-22:00

(7) Mt. Iwato
How to board / Purchase a 300 yen worship ticket or Iwatoyama zongzi (700 yen)
Date/Time: July 13 (Sat) 20:00-22:00, July 14 (Sun)-16 (Tue) 9:00-22:00

During the Gion Festival season, which includes the two days of the Mae Festival (Mae-matsuri) Yoiyama (15th) and Yoiyama (16th), you can enjoy the Gion Festival more than ever with a variety of gourmet foods offered by popular restaurants. There are also many rare gourmet foods that can only be enjoyed during this period. Please pay attention to the gourmet foods that you will want to try even if you have to wait in line.

On July 15 and 16 every year, Karasuma-dori (Sanjo-dori to Takoyakushi-dori area), Muromachi-dori (Yamabushi to Shirakutenyama area), Shinmachi-dori (Houshita-hoko to Iwatoyama area) and some other areas become pedestrian zones, and the streets are lined with food stalls. Some stalls are open from the morning, so stop by even during sightseeing. In the evening, when the weather cools down a bit, the streets become even more crowded with people on their way home from work. Don't miss out on this seasonal treat.