The Gion Bayashi※ that echoes in Gion in July is from the Gion Festival.
It is a festival of Yasaka Shrine that held for a month from July 1st.
※The Sounds of a flute or drum.
image photo
What is Gion Festival?
One of the three major festivals in Japan.
It is said that Gion Festival has a history of over 1000 years, the origin of it was praying to the Gods and Buddha to contain the plague that raged in Kyoto.
Over 30 years of suspension and reconstruction.
Overcoming them,
with the time, it has changed as it is now.
It was designated a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property in 1979 and was registered as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritages in 2009.
The main is The Yamahoko Jyunko.
In addition,
there are Sakimatsuri(pre-festival) and Atomatsuri(post-festival).
For your information, at the Sakimatsuri, you can enjoy the food stands.
And it is a pedestrian paradise from 18:00 to 23:00, so there are especially crowded.
image photo
About The Yamahoko
There is a total of 33 of various sizes and shapes.
Of which, 29 are registered as National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Properties,
and the largest ones can weigh up to 12 tons.
The Yamahoko Jyunko (Yamahoko Parade) that called moving museum is the greatest highlight of the Gion Festival.
The order of the parade is decided by Lottery at the beginning of July,
and there will be a parade of 23 at the Sakimatsuri and 10 at the Atomatsuri.
There are various arts and crafts decorations on the Yamahoko.
Therefore,you will be able to enjoy the beautiful decoration of the Yamahoko.
image photo
image photo
image photo
image photo
image photo
Gion Festival Scenery
It is decorated with lanterns throughout the town.
You can see the lanterns of various sizes and designs decorated throughout the town.
You can buy amulets for warding off evil during the Yoiyama (Sakimatsuri) period.
It is called “Yakuyoke Chimaki”.
The meaning of amulets is not limited to warding off evil.
At the Yamahoko, you can buy amulets with various benefits such as “academic achievement” and “success of life”.
In Kyoto, many people buy amulets that Are sold only during the Gion Festival and display them at the entrance for a year.
Would like to try to look for it when you walk around the city of Gion?
