Gion Festival’s tradition dates back to 896, and has been an annual affair since 970 – originating in an attempt to appease the gods thought to be in control of fire, floods and earthquakes. It all began when, in 896, while suffering from plague and pestilence, the townspeople were ordered by Emperor Seiwa to pray at the Yasaka Shrine. Today, who arrive to watch the floats go by can feel this sense of inherited tradition, unchanged for over 1,100 years, and feel the pride of the locals, from the Yakata clothes that will help any fan feel as though they belong, to the Folding Screen Festival, where private houses open up in the old kimono merchant district to show off their valuable family heirlooms.

The Parade - Yamaboko Junko

With two parades over the course of a month, the second being the crown of the tradition, and finishing off with a bonfire, these grand processions are the pride of all the events, and act as galleries of unexpected art, antiques and artefacts; comprised of 9 building-sized Hoko and 23 smaller Yama. Hoko are the ritual floats, pulled by 40 men with ropes and built without nails, using traditional Japanese building methods, atop the smaller Yama sits life-sized figures of famous people.

Night-Stool-Cuisine

Like the culture of Kyoto there is a lot more outside of the parade than in it, but along the streets is a varied taste of tradition and pop-culture where fans will find a bit of everything Kyoto – from the sit-down Tea Ceremony Festival (deeply rooted in Zen Buddhism) to the street food venders which offer everything from zesty snacks to sweet deserts.

Gion Matsuri is giant Hoko: floating gods, myths & legends in the streets of Kyoto!