"Kyoto Gion Festival" Yamahoko Procession Paid Viewing Seats

The Gion Festival is a traditional festival of Yasaka Shrine in Kyoto, said to have begun in 869 as a prayer to ward off epidemics. A variety of religious ceremonies and events are held over the course of a month, with the Yamahoko Procession being the festival's biggest highlight. The Yamahoko Procession takes place twice, on July 17 and July 24. The sight of lavishly decorated yamahoko floats making their way through the streets of Kyoto is known as a "moving museum" and attracts visitors from Japan and around the world as one of Kyoto's quintessential summer traditions. On July 17, 23 yamahoko floats proceed through the city, led by the Naginata Hoko. Highlights include the powerful "tsuji-mawashi," in which the enormous yamahoko floats are turned at intersections, the sound of Gion-bayashi music, and the brilliantly ornate decorative tapestries. On July 24, 11 yamahoko floats proceed through the city. One of the highlights is "kujiare," a ceremony in which the mayor confirms that the procession order is correct. The order is decided in advance by drawing lots, and during the procession, representatives of each yamahoko read aloud documents stating their assigned order. This is a scene unique to the Gion Festival and offers a sense of its enduring tradition. Registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, the Gion Festival is one of Kyoto's most iconic traditional festivals, passed down for more than 1,000 years. In particular, the Yamahoko Procession, its greatest highlight, captivates countless people as a grand traditional event symbolizing summer in Kyoto. Be sure to enjoy its power and splendor from the special viewing seats set up along Kyoto's main street, Oike-dori.