[Kyoto's Three Major Festivals] Gion Festival

Features of this Plan

• Yama-Hoko Construction

  

  Every year from the tenth to the fourteenth of July in the Early Festival, from the eighteenth to the twenty-first of July in the Latter Festival this work is carried out on the hoko- and Hikiyama-style floats. Simply speaking, battens and crossbeams are bound onto four standing poles to create the body of the float, but the placement and angle of these differs from district to district, and each float has its own distinctive form.The traditional method of securing these beams to each other with straw rope(Nawagarami) is famous, since not one nail is used in the entire process.The exceptional nature of the rope-binding process is that it enables the float to absorb all the shaking and bending that occurs during the float procession.After the Yama-Hoko have been constructed, they are taken on a test run "Hikizome" throught the districts, with the chorus leaders (Ondotori) and orchestras (Hayashi-kata) aboard in full ceremonial attire.It is said that those who pull the ropes during the test run are protected from harm for a year, and it is only at this time that women and children are allowed to help pull the floats.

• Yoi-Yama Procession Eve

  

  In days of old, the day was held to begin at sunset. Therefore, to put this in modern perspective, the day of the festival was thought to have already begun on the evening of the previous day;You can view the mountains and floatsand this was called Yoi-Yama, or procession eve.Procession eve is the time during the Gion Matsuri when flames are lit in the decorative komagata lantern of each Yama-Hoko, and the Yama-Hoko are beautifully bedecked with their figures, tapestries and metal fittings. One can hear the voices of the children who sell protective charms singing their children's songs, dressed in their Yukata style. It is now that the festival spirit reaches its height. The 16th in the Early Festival and the 23rd in the Latter Festival are the actual date of Yoi-Yama, but in recent years the term has been extended to include from the 14th to 16th in the Early Festival, and from the 21st to 23rd in the Lattern Festival as well.

• Yama-Hoko Junko Procession

  

  Saki Matsuri (Early) Procession : July 17th

  Ato Matsuri (Latter) Procession : July 24th

   

  The Gion chant of Kon-chiki-chin echoes through the summer sky,the highlight of the Gion Matsuri Festival is the Yama-Hoko Junko Procession, where floats pass through the streets.The Saki Matsuri (Early) procession starts from Shijo Karasuma, and the Ato Matsuri (Latter) procession from Karasuma Oike. There are many highlights, such as the "Kuji-aratame" to confirm the order of the parade, and the dynamic "Tsuji-mawashi" (turning the float). A magnificent and spectacular pageant unfolds, also known as a "moving art museum."
  *Seats on Oike-dori Street must be reserved in advance.