Gion Matsuri - Yoiyama series

Posted by Celialee (Kyoto, Japan) on 17 July 2007 in Lifestyle & Culture.

This is the start of the Gion Matsuri, a traditional festival celebrated in Japan and held at Yasaka Shrine. It has been held for over 1100 years. The first festival was held in 869 when the city suffered from plague. The people prayed to the gods to save them and portable shrines were paraded through the streets.

For three nights before the main float parade (Yamaboko Junko), a night festival is held called Yoiyama where the public can admire the floats all lit up with lanters, stationed at specific places on the city streets. There are many stalls along the roads as well, selling food, drinks, toys and anything else you can think of. On the floats, the musicians will play traditional Gion bayashi songs lending to the atmosphere of Yoiyama. It is not complete without hearing the songs.

For these three nights, the streets of Shijo, Karasuma and smaller alleys are closed to traffic for a few hours to accomodate the public wanting to see the floats. Thousands descend to Kyoto for this event.

This picture is still of the main float called Naginata Boko, the first float to lead the parade and carries the boy deity. The order of the other floats are chosen by lots. Each hoko (float) weighs 12 tons and is 25 meters high. They need around 30 to 50 people to pull the hoko along the streets.

For further information about the floats and Gion Matsuri, please visit here

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