Gion Matsuri

Festival

Close-up of three Japanese women wearing traditional kimonos and white makeup with red lips, with the focus on one woman’s shoulder and face, while the others are in the background.

Gion Matsuri is Kyoto's most celebrated annual festival and one of Japan's most significant cultural events. Held throughout July, the festival has been observed for more than 1,100 years, originating as a purification ceremony at Yasaka Shrine to protect the city from epidemics and natural disasters.

The festival is best known for its magnificent Yamaboko floats, some reaching more than 25 metres in height and weighing several tonnes. Decorated with exquisite textiles, lacquerwork and handcrafted ornaments collected over centuries, these moving works of art are recognised as some of Japan's finest examples of traditional craftsmanship.

In the days leading up to the main processions, the historic streets of central Kyoto are closed to traffic for the Yoiyama celebrations. Lantern-lit evenings, traditional performances and food stalls create a festive atmosphere as visitors explore the neighbourhoods where the floats are displayed.

The highlight of the festival is the Yamaboko Junko procession, held in two parts, the Saki Matsuri and the Ato Matsuri. As the floats are carefully guided through Kyoto's streets, accompanied by traditional music and participants dressed in historical attire, the city offers a remarkable glimpse into customs that have been preserved for generations.

For visitors to Kyoto in July, Gion Matsuri provides an unforgettable opportunity to experience the city's history, craftsmanship and enduring cultural traditions at their most vibrant.

Two geishas with white face makeup, red lipstick, and traditional hairstyles wearing large straw hats and red scarves around their necks.