Gion Matsuri

This is the second time Joules and I have been in Kyoto for this festival, which is probably the city’s most famous.

It is held in July each year and dates back to Heian times, about a 1000 years ago. The main part of the festival involves the building, displaying and parade of 32 floats. The big hoko floats are enormous wooden constructions which can weigh up to 10 tons .

They are made without and nails, instead relying on sturdy rope. It’s amazing that they don’t fall apart as 50 men to pull them around on parade day. There is a special kind of music, called Gion-bayashi, is perfomed by men sitting on top of these floats. It can also be heard around town in shops and malls in run up to the parade. Kon kon chiki kon kon, yep it can get quite annoying after a while.

On the three nights preceding parade day the floats are decorated with lanterns and the whole city comes out to see them. This is a Japanese festival so of course most people are more interested in the food and drink stalls, or winning a fish, rather than the ancient floats. Many of the teenagers get dressed up in yukata - a type of summer kimono, which adds to the festive atmosphere.

This year Joules’ host at the university was walking with the praying mantis yama float, which was first in the parade behind the head hoko float. The parade order is drawn by ballot and getting first place is a prestigious spot.

My favourite part of the festival is Hanagasa, which takes place a week after the big float parade. Hana means flower and gasa (kasa) means umbrella. It is centred on the Yasaka shrine in Gion. A parade of umbrellas is taken around the surrounding streets then there are different musical and dance performances back at the shrine, including some by the Gion geisha. Maybe that’s why I like it?