Kyoto Gion Matsuri Festival and its Yamahoko Ritual
29-1 July, Kyoto (Kyoto prefecture)
Kyoto Gion Matsuri Festival and its Yamahoko ritual are well-known as the festival that has rich a historical background, the parade of gorgeous and luxurious Yamahoko floats, and the enormous scale in which many citizens hold a variety of events for a month. Historically, most summer festivals named “Gion” or “Tennoh” are considered to be strongly influenced by Kyoto’s Gion Festival. Undoubtedly, in the aspect of the origin and changes of typical traditional summer festivals, it is one of the most important and biggest festivals in Japan.
This ritual is held in the festival of Yasaka Shrine. It was started as “Gion Goryoue” ritual in Heian-kyo, which is the current Kyoto, the capital city of classic Japan (800-1200AD), but the famous Yama and Hoko were developed during the Nanboku-cho period and Muromachi period (1300-1500AD). In Azuchi-Momoyama period (1500-1600AD), Yama and Hoko were decorated with numerous luxurious products such as metal fitting, carving and imported cloth.
From the "Kujitori" lottery ritual on 2 July to the Yamahoko floats parade and Gion bayashi music on 17 July, the festival contains various contexts. Especially, the gorgeous Yamahoko parade attracts people from other areas, and it has much impact on Gion and Tennoh festivals around the country.
- Organizer:
- Yasaka Shrine and Yamahoko town
- Contact Details
- 〒602-0073
- Kyoto Kamigyo Horikawatsu Teranouchi Noboru Teranouchi Tatemachi 628
Urasenke Tankokai Federation - TEL：075-451-5166
- Website
- Gion Festival Yamahoko Association, a Public Interest Incorporated Foundation
- http://www.gionmatsuri.or.jp/
- Kyoto Gion Festival Volunteer 21
- http://www.gionmatsuri.info/
