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All Japan Kyoto Yamaboko Festival in Kyoto - Gion Festival

Yamaboko Festival in Kyoto - Gion Festival

Japan's largest and oldest annual procession of floats, begun in 869.

Kyoto, Japan

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Floats are pulled by teams of up to 100 men   Ken Spink
Naginata Boko float leads the procession every year  
Floats can be seen for four nights before the 17 July procession   Ken Spink
Night view: floats are several stories tall. Lanterns represent ships’ sails   Ken Spink
This float represents the empress’ ship   Ken Spink
Famous Gobelin tapestry is hundreds of years old   Ken Spink
Preying mantis moves arms, legs and wings by clockwork built in the 15th century.   Ken Spink
Taishi Yama represents the crown prince cutting a pine bough   Ken Spink
Steering is done by wooden blocks.   Ken Spink
Many locals wear beautiful summer yukatas during the festival   Ken Spink
Hakuga Yama took a hatchet to his Koto at the death of his best friend   Ken Spink
Kikusui Boko features a life size doll   Ken Spink
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
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About

In 869 Kyoto was struck by a massive epidemic. In order to end the plague and appease the gods, Emperor Seiwa requested the head priest of the Yasaka Shrine to hold a procession to remove the evil spirits from the city.

Every year since, on July 17th, the procession is held. At least 32 floats, or pikes, many of them hundreds of years old and all constructed without iron or nails, are drawn through Kyoto's streets by teams of men in one of Japan's biggest festivals. The floats are decorated with carvings, statues and precious Gobelin tapestries, some 600 years old, and depict scenes from the Buddhist or Shinto religions, Japanese and Chinese history and literature or Noh plays. The largest floats, pulled by teams of up to 100 men in period costumes, weigh more than ten tons. Steering is done by blocking the front wheels with wooden wedges while chanting men pull on stout ropes to maneuver around corners.

From the 13th to the 16th of July, the 'kon-chiki-chin' Gion Rhythm (Gion-bayashi) is played in each town where the pikes are made, and the festival reaches its peak on the 17th, with the Yamaboko Float Parade (Yamaboko Jyunkou). For four nights before the procession, the floats are parked on certain city streets where spectators can hear the flutes and bells and where masses of lanterns simulate a ship's sails.

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Edited By

dwe65, Collector of Experiences

  • dwe65
  • Collector of Experiences

Published

March 14, 2010

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Sources
  • Personal visit, July 2007
  • http://www.kyoto.travel/2009/11/gion-matsuri-festival.html
  • http://skaremedia.com/kyoto
Yamaboko Festival in Kyoto - Gion Festival
Kyoto
Japan
35.01054, 135.768142
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Photo of Kyoto

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Photo of Kyoto

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Stories 5

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