Gion Festival 2024

The Gion Matsuri (祇園祭) is a festival held at the Yasaka Shrine (Gion Shrine) in the Higashiyama district of Kyoto, Japan. Until the Meiji era, it was known as the Gion Goryo-e (祇園御霊会). It is a summer tradition in Kyoto that has been held since the Heian period (9th century).

Overview: The festival events are broadly divided into those organized by the Yasaka Shrine and those organized by the Hokocho (山鉾町, float neighborhoods).

Generally, events organized by the Hokocho are widely recognized as the “Gion Matsuri,” and among them, only the float events are designated as Important Intangible Folk Cultural Properties. The highlight of the float events organized by the Hokocho is divided into two parts: the pre-festival (Sakimatsuri, さきのまつり) and the post-festival (Atomatsuri, あとのまつり). The float events include Yoiyama (宵山, the eve of the festival: July 14-16) and Yama Hoko Junko (山鉾巡行, float procession: July 17 and July 24).

The Yasaka Shrine’s main events include “Mikoshi Togyo” (portable shrine procession: July 17 and July 24) and “Mikoshi-arai” (portable shrine purification: July 10 and July 28). The Hanagasa Junko (花傘巡行, flower umbrella procession) organized by the Hanagasa Rengo-kai (花傘連合会) on July 24 is also an event associated with the Yasaka Shrine.

During Yoiyama, Sakimatsuri, and Sakimatsuri, valuable treasures such as screens passed down through old families and traditional stores are exhibited, earning it the nickname “Byobu Matsuri” (屏風祭, folding screen festival). The Yama Hoko Junko features floats adorned with various arts and crafts designated as Important Tangible Folk Cultural Properties, making it akin to a “moving art museum.”

 

 

 

 

Event Summary

■Date of Event

July 1-31, 2024

Location Yasaka Shrine, Kyoto

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