Home > KYOTO 京都府 > Kyoto city 京都市 > Gion Matsuri Festival, Saki Matsuri (First Procession) 祇園祭・前祭

gi401-IMG_4502.jpg
Gion Matsuri is one of Japan's grandest festivals. Held annually in July, the festival's climax is on the 17th and 24th when giant, wooden-wheeled floats are pulled through the streets.This is at the starting point of the Yamahoko Junko procession on July 17.
gi402-IMG_4500.jpg
I first went to one of the starting points of the parade.
gi403-IMG_4511.jpg
Starting at 9 am, the Naginata Hoko float always leads the procession. 長刀鉾
gi404-IMG_4512.jpg
The Naginata Hoko is the only one with a live sacred child called "Chigo."長刀鉾
gi405-794-32.jpg
Naginata Hoko 長刀鉾
gi406-794-26.jpg
Naginata Hoko and chigo child 稚児長刀鉾
gi407-794-27.jpg
Naginata Hoko and chigo child 稚児
gi408-IMG_4532.jpg
Kanko Hoko
gi409-IMG_4533.jpg
gi410-IMG_4540.jpg
gi411-IMG_4546.jpg
Yama float
gi412-IMG_4548.jpg
Tsuki Hoko (Moon Float) 月鉾
gi413-IMG_4552.jpg
Tsuki Hoko 月鉾
gi414-IMG_4560.jpg
Pulling the Tsuki Hoko. Also see the video at YouTube.Notice the crescent moon design on their happi coats.
gi415-IMG_4563.jpg
Tsuki Hoko月鉾
gi416-IMG_4565.jpg
He steers the rear wheels with a wedged stick.
gi417-IMG_4573.jpg
gi418-IMG_4580.jpg
Urade Yama float 占出山
gi419-IMG_4579.jpg
Tapestry on Urade Yama float depicting's Japan's Scenic Trio 占出山
gi420-IMG_4586.jpg
Pulling a float at the Kyoto Gion Matsuri.
gi421-IMG_4591.jpg
gi422-IMG_4597.jpg
gi423-IMG_4601.jpg
gi424-IMG_4609.jpg
The wheel's diameter is 1.9 meter.
gi425-IMG_4629.jpg
There are nine of these giant hoko floats.
gi426-IMG_4630.jpg
The hoko floats are about 20 meters tall.
gi427-IMG_4634.jpg
Shijo-dori street 四条通り
gi428-IMG_4520.jpg
Shijo-dori street is the first segment of the procession route. 四条通り
gi429-IMG_4636.jpg
An ambulance comes through, probably with someone suffering from heat stroke.
gi430-IMG_4637.jpg
gi431-IMG_4647.jpg
gi432-IMG_4649.jpg
gi433-IMG_4653.jpg
So why does it have a tree growing on the roof?
gi434-IMG_4663.jpg
The Fune Hoko is a unique, boat-shaped float. 船鉾
gi435-IMG_4667.jpg
Fune Hoko boat-shaped float. 船鉾
gi436-IMG_4671.jpg
Huge crowd watch the floats turn at the corner in front of Kyoto City Hall. 京都市役所前
gi437-IMG_4699.jpg
A sea of people in front of Kyoto City Hall. 京都市役所前
gi438-IMG_4701.jpg
gi439-IMG_4707.jpg
gi440-IMG_4713.jpg
Turning the hoko float at the Kyoto Gion Matsuri.
gi441-IMG_4720.jpg
They are pulling floats weighing 10 tons.
gi442-IMG_4726.jpg
Also see the video at YouTube.
gi443-IMG_4731.jpg
Successful corner turn to Oike-dori street
gi444-IMG_4734.jpg
Another float is preparing to make the turn.
gi445-IMG_4745.jpg
The front wheels are placed on wet strips of bamboo.
gi446-IMG_4741.jpg
When the wheels are on the bamboo strips, they pull.
gi447-IMG_4767.jpg
Fune Hoko boat-shaped float. 船鉾
gi448-IMG_4788.jpg
Fune Hoko boat-shaped float makes the turn.船鉾
gi449-IMG_4814.jpg
gi450-IMG_4840.jpg
The yama floats have no problem turning.
gi451-IMG_4884.jpg
Oike-dori is a wide road and the last stretch of the procession. 御池通り
gi452-IMG_4894.jpg
御池通り
gi453-IMG_4899.jpg
Minami-Kannon Yama float always appears last in the parade. (This float now appears in the Ato Matsuri parade on July 24.) 南観音山
gi454-IMG_4906.jpg
This road has paid seating, but most are empty. Probably too hot to sit over the asphalt.
gi455-IMG_4917.jpg
At the end of the route, the last floats arrive here by 1:20 pm or so. So if you want to see the float procession, be in Kyoto by 1 pm and go to the end of the route.
gi456-IMG_4940.jpg
Disassembly occurs soon after the procession ends.
gi457-IMG_4948.jpg
Disassembly. The wheel axel is made of steel.
gi458-IMG_4957.jpg
Disassembly
gi459-IMG_4971.jpg
Gion Matsuri poster for 2004.
gi460-gionmatsuri.youtube
My video of the Gion Matsuri Saki Matsuri procession on July 17.
60 files on 1 page(s)