Gion Matsuri祇園祭

The festival of Yasaka Shrine in Kyoto: a month of Shinto rites and float ceremonies running from the Kippuiri on July 1 to the Ekijinja Nagoshi-sai on July 31.

Gion Matsuri is the festival of Yasaka Shrine, held to pray for protection from epidemics and misfortune. It opens with the Kippuiri on July 1; the floats are then assembled and displayed during the Yoiyama evenings, and the yama and hoko floats process on July 17 (Saki Matsuri) and July 24 (Ato Matsuri). On the 17th the shrine's mikoshi are carried to the Otabisho at Shijo Teramachi in the Shinkosai, and on the 24th they return to the shrine in the Kankosai. The festival closes with the Ekijinja Nagoshi-sai on July 31.

This is a religious rite rooted in a shrine or temple. Please follow the guidance of the organizers and clergy, and take care not to disrupt the ceremonies.

According to Yasaka Shrine, the festival traces back to 869 (Jogan 11), when an epidemic spread through the capital and beyond: 66 halberds, one for each province of the time, were raised and mikoshi were sent from the shrine to the Shinsen-en garden to pray for deliverance. The rite was originally called goryo-e. The Agency for Cultural Affairs notes that by the 14th–15th centuries the festival had taken shape around yama and hoko floats, and that by the late 16th century the townspeople were adorning them with lavish textiles and metalwork.

Source: 八坂神社(external site, opens in a new tab) / 文化庁(external site, opens in a new tab)

At its heart is a prayer for protection from plague and disaster, a faith also carried by the "Somin Shorai shison nari" amulet. The float ceremonies, from the lottery that fixes the procession order through float building, Yoiyama and the processions themselves, are run by neighbourhood organisations known as chōjū.

1. 01

   Kippuiri

   The rite on July 1 that opens the festival.

2. 02

   Yoiyama

   July 14–16 for the Saki Matsuri and July 21–23 for the Ato Matsuri, when the assembled floats stand in their neighbourhoods.

3. 03

   Yamahoko Junko (float processions)

   The Saki Matsuri floats process on July 17 and the Ato Matsuri floats on July 24.

4. 04

   Shinkosai and Kankosai

   On the 17th three mikoshi travel to the Otabisho; on the 24th they return to the shrine.

5. 05

   Ekijinja Nagoshi-sai

   Held on July 31 at the Ekijinja within the precincts, closing the festival.

The float ceremonies are carried out by each neighbourhood's chōjū organisation; the designated preservation body is the Gion Matsuri Yamahoko Rengokai (a public interest foundation).

• Gion Matsuriコロナ禍の祇園祭〜祈りの一週間〜【前祭(さきまつり)編　7/17】

• Gion Matsuri京都祇園祭の山鉾行事（60分）─日本語版─

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The float processions take place on July 17 (Saki Matsuri) and July 24 (Ato Matsuri). The City of Kyoto asks visitors to guard against heatstroke and to use public transport. Check the city's Kyoto Travel Navi for each year's traffic controls and seating information.

Traffic controls, seating and fees change every year. Always check the official website for the latest information.

Official website — yasaka-jinja.or.jp(external site, opens in a new tab)

• Follow the instructions of police and stewards
• Refrain from eating while walking
• Take precautions against heatstroke
• Use public transport

• UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage · 2009

  UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage (Representative List)

  Designated subject: Yamahoko, the float ceremony of the Kyoto Gion festival (inscribed 2009; extended in 2016 as part of "Yama, Hoko, Yatai, float festivals in Japan")（Festival as a whole）

  Source: 京都祇園祭の山鉾行事 - 文化遺産オンライン(external site, opens in a new tab)

• National designation · 1979

  Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property

  Designated subject: Float ceremonies of the Kyoto Gion Festival (Kyoto Gion Matsuri no Yamahoko Gyoji)（Festival as a whole）

  Source: 京都祇園祭の山鉾行事 - 文化遺産オンライン(external site, opens in a new tab)

• National designation · 1962

  Important Tangible Folk Cultural Property

  Designated subject: Gion Matsuri Yamahoko (29 floats)（Floats）

  Source: 祇園祭山鉾 - 文化遺産オンライン(external site, opens in a new tab)

1. 1.祇園祭｜主な神事・行事｜八坂神社(external site, opens in a new tab)八坂神社 · Accessed 2026-09-26
2. 2.祇園祭「どんな祭？」｜【京都市公式】京都観光Navi(external site, opens in a new tab)京都市 · Accessed 2026-09-26
3. 3.祇園祭山鉾巡行（前祭・後祭）｜【京都市公式】京都観光Navi(external site, opens in a new tab)京都市 · Accessed 2026-09-26
4. 4.京都祇園祭の山鉾行事 - 文化遺産オンライン(external site, opens in a new tab)文化庁 · Accessed 2026-09-26
5. 5.祇園祭山鉾 - 文化遺産オンライン(external site, opens in a new tab)文化庁 · Accessed 2026-09-26
6. 6.「山・鉾・屋台行事」のユネスコ無形文化遺産登録（代表一覧表記載）について(external site, opens in a new tab)文化庁 · Accessed 2026-09-26

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  The Minami Kannonyama float glowing with tiers of paper lanterns on a Gion Matsuri Yoiyama night

  Photographer

  Sakurai Midori

  Source

  Minami Kannonyama Gion Matsuri Yoiyama.jpg(external site, opens in a new tab)

  Licence

  CC BY-SA 3.0(external site, opens in a new tab)

• 

  Looking up at the Naginata-boko float at dusk during Yoiyama, its mast rising and lanterns lit

  Photographer

  Hahifuheho

  Source

  Naginatahoko at Gion Matsuri Yoiyama.jpg(external site, opens in a new tab)

  Licence

  Public domain(external site, opens in a new tab)

• 

  The ship-shaped Funeboko float and attendants in formal kamishimo during the Yamaboko procession

  Photographer

  江戸村のとくぞう

  Source

  Gion Matsuri 2017-1.jpg(external site, opens in a new tab)

  Licence

  CC BY-SA 4.0(external site, opens in a new tab)

• 

  Crew turning a Gion Matsuri float's giant wooden wheels over wet split bamboo in the tsujimawashi

  Photographer

  Marie-Sophie Mejan

  Source

  Kyoto, Gion-matsuri, 9.jpg(external site, opens in a new tab)

  Licence

  CC BY 4.0(external site, opens in a new tab)