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The Gion Matsuri Festival
A living symbol of Kyoto's 1,200 years of rich, colourful history
The Gion Matsuri Festival is one of Japan's major festivals in terms of history, tradition and scale. It begins on July 1st and lasts for one month. The most public and anticipated event of the festival is the grand parade on the 17th in which 32 amazing floats are paraded through the city.
History
Throughout history, Kyoto has suffered many times from all kinds of bad omens including epidemics, floods, fires, and earthquakes. To keep the bad omens away and the good spirits strong and content, special protective or goryo-e festivals have been held in Kyoto since ancient times. The origin of the festival dates back to the early Heian period (794-1185). The first Gion Matsuri, one of Japan's oldest goryo-e festivals, was held in the early Heian period (794-1185) to stop a series of devastating plagues. In desperation, the reigning emperor decreed that special prayers be said at Yasaka Shrine, one of Kyoto's oldest and most important goryo shrines.
The shrine deities that preside over the festival and certain sacred treasures are transported in three special mikoshi (portable shrine) to the Otabisho, a temporary location in the city center where the deities stay during the festival (east of Teramachi, south side of Shijo). The grand parade was originally held as a ritual to welcome the deities to the Otabisho. and that the country's 66 provincial floats (hoko) be paraded through the city. The festival became a yearly event starting around 970 and, except for brief interruptions, it has continued ever since.
The Yama & Hoko floats
For tourists and citizens alike a big part of the Gion Matsuri Festival is still connected with the elaborate floats (see map for individual locations) that has made this festival so famous. In the 15th century, when Kyoto's kimono merchants' fortunes grew, they began to compete against each other to see who could build the biggest and most beautiful floats. During the Edo period (1600-1868) and early Meiji period (1868-1912), the floats and the city of Kyoto were badly damaged by war fire on several occasions. However, each time the citizens worked hard to rebuild everything and the festival continued to grow in popularity and fame.
Hashibenkei-yama Nagitana-boko
The 32 floats of the festival are of two types, yama and hoko. The yama floats depict scenes from Chinese and Japanese history and mythology and often bear pine trees, shrines, and mannequins. The hoko are massive 2-storied, nearly 10-ton combinations of music hall and museum that are hauled by teams of up to 50 men. Unlike the yama, the roofed hoko have long, mast-like poles ending in an identifying ornament. Both types of floats incorporate an astounding variety of decorative elements: elaborate ceiling paintings, roof carvings, metal work, dolls and textiles transported from Europe along the Silk Road. For this reason the floats are also called ''moving museums''.
Gion Matsuri Event Calendar
10-14
Hoko and Yama Tate (float construction)
On these three days, the festival's 32 floats are assembled; no nails are used; this is a great opportunity for getting up close the floats (and on them) and taking killer photos with your digital camera.
10
Omukae Chochin (welcoming lanterns)
Men wearing formal kimono and carrying long bamboo poles from which lanterns are suspended, depart from Yasaka Shrine at 16:30, and head west along Shijo to Kawaramachi.
Mikoshi Arai (mikoshi purification)
During the festival, the deities of Yasaka Shrine reside in a temporary shrine called the Otabisho. Before moving the deities on the mikoshi portable shrines, the mikoshi are purified with water from the Kamogawa River. The mikoshi depart from Yasaka Shrine at 19:00 and arrive at the bridge at 20:00, then come back to the shrine at 21:00.
12-14
Hoko Hikihajime & Yama Kakizome (trial pulling)
On these days, the people of each respective float neighbourhood try pulling the newly constructed floats to ensure that they are ready for the parade route on the 17th.
14-16
Yoiyama (eve of the grand parade)
On the three nights before the grand parade, the festival atmosphere reaches its peak. The streets west of Karasuma and south of Oike are crowded with people, many in traditional dress; Gion bayashi music fills the air, and many stalls are set up along the colorfully decorated streets.
Byobu Matsuri (folding screen display)
The old textile merchant homes and businesses on Shinmachi and Muromachi open up the front parts of their homes and shops, allowing the public a first-hand look at their valuable folding screens and other treasures; this is a must-experience event!
15
Traditional Entertainment
From 15:00 to 18:00, traditional Japanese entertainment (kabuki, biwa lute, harp, kyogen, dance, etc.) will be performed on the stage in the center of Yasaka Shrine.
16
Kencha Matsuri (tea ceremony festival)
From 9:00 at Yasaka Shrine, formal tea ceremony will be performed by the Ura Senke School.
Iwami Kagura (ancient court dance)
From 19:00 at Yasaka Shrine, ancient court dance will be performed to the music of flute and bells.
17
Yamaboko Junko (grand parade)
At 9:00, the main Naginata-boko starts moving. When it reaches Fuyacho, the chigo sacred child on the float cuts the sacred rope and the parade begins.
24
Hanagasa Junko (flower umbrella procession)
At 10:00, about ten large umbrella floats attended by nearly 1,000 people depart from Yasaka Shrine. Various dances are performed as part of this event.
25
Kyogen Performance
At 13:00, the Shigeyama Family will perform special kyogen (comical theatre) plays at Yasaka Shrine.
28
Mikoshi Arai (mikoshi purification)
As on the 10th, the mikoshi are again purified on Shijo Bridge at 20:00 before the deities are carried back to Yasaka Shrine from their temporary home, the Otabisho.
31
Nagoshi-sai (summer purification ceremony)
This event completes the one-month-long festival. The ceremony starts at 10:00 at Yasaka Shrine. A huge chinowa wreath circle made of long green rushes is set up. Passing through the circle of the wreath is said to purify the spirit and ward off illness in the coming year.