Gion Matsuri Float Map, Kyoto Ashikari-yama　|　Public Interest Incorporated Foundation for Ashikariyama Preservation

GionMatsuri Float Map

Explanation of Floats (Hoko and Yama)

Hoko (Star Floats)

There are five large floats that represent the procession of Gion Matsuri. They are as tall as 25 meters, and travel on large wheels carrying musical accompaniment. A star float is tugged by thirty to forty men on ropes.

FUNE-HOKO (BOAT-SHAPED FLOATS)

These two boat-shaped floats respectively crown the procession in Saki-matsuri and in Ato-matsuri. In 2014, Ofune-hoko for Ato-matsuri was restored for the first time in 150 years. Ancient people called Fune-hoko a “boat of departure” and Ofune-hoko a “boat of return”.

Hiki-yama (Towed Floats)

Three floats are classified as hiki-yama (towed floats), which are large for yama and resemble hoko (aka -boko-), in that they have wheels and carry musical accompaniment, though they have pine instead of cypress on top.

Kaki-yama (Carried Floats)

Twenty floats are classified as kaki-yama (carried floats), which are carried on shoulders of around twenty men. They are decorated with pine or cedar on top, and hold such divine items as small shrines and divine dolls.

Kasa-hoko (Umbrella Floats)

Two floats are classified as kasa-hoko (umbrella floats), which hand down a very old shape of floats. These floats carry an umbrella hanging textile trail, and are accompanied by dancers and musicians.

Yake-yama (Burnt Floats)

Floats have been burnt and restored through numerous wars and fires. There are three floats classified as yake-yama (burnt floats), which appear in historical records but do not currently participate in procession, due to destruction by fire or other community reasons.

Location and description of floats
(in alphabetical order)

Sakimatsuri

Ashikari-yama
芦刈山
West, Nishinotoin-dori and Ayanokoji-dori
Ashikari-yama is based on the Noh play “Ashikari,” in which a woman finds out her ex-husband, who cuts and sells reed in poverty, and then they get reunited. The Divine Doll’s old clothing is the oldest kosode (a type of kimono) among those for all floats.

Aburatenjin-yama
油天神山
South, Aburanokoji-dori and Ayanokoji-dori
A statue of Tenjin (Lord Michizane Sugawara) is enshrined in the portable shrine painted in red.

Araretenjin-yama
霰天神山
West, Muromachi-dori and Nishikikoji-dori
This floatenshrines a Tenjin god (Lord Michizane Sugawara), which came down with a hail and extinguished a blaze that nearly devoured Kyoto.

Ayakasa-hoko
綾傘鉾
West, Muromachi-dori and Ayanokoji-dori
This float is one of the kasa-hoko (umbrella floats), equipped with a large umbrella, and is accompanied by a dancer twirling a halberd. The dancer wears a red hairy mask, and dances to the bells, drums and flutes.

Fune-hoko
船鉾
South,Shinmachi-dori and Ayanokoji-dori
This float is built in the shape of a boat (“Fune”), based on an episode of Jingu Kogo, an ancient empress. A mythical bird is carved at the bow, and a flying dragon at the stern. Charms for safe delivery are handed out.

Hakuga-yama
伯牙山
West, Shinmachi-dori and Ayanokoji-dori
This float is based on an anecdote from the Zhou dynasty of China, where a famous koto (an Oriental harp) player severed the strings of his harp upon hearing the news of his friend’s death.

Hakurakuten-yama
白楽天山
South, Muromachi-dori and Shijo-dori
This float features a scene from the Tang dynasty of China, in which Hakurakuten, a popular Chinese poet, learns the essence of Buddhism from Master Dorin.

Hoka-hoko
放下鉾
North, Shinmachi-dori and Shijo-dori
This float enshrines a monk named“Hokaso”in the center seat. The float top depicts the sun, the moon and stars, shining over the earth.

Hosho-yama
保昌山
North, Higashinotoin-dori and Matsubara-dori
This float depicts an ancient warrior who picks up a sprig of red plum blossoms in the Imperial Palace, to present to a celebrated court lady named Izumi Shikibu. Charms for happy marriage are handed out.

Iwato-yama
岩戸山
South, Shinmachi-dori and Bukkoji-dori
This float is based on a myth that the sun goddess hid herself behind “Iwato (rock door)”. It enshrines the sun goddess, a man god beside her, and her father god on the roof.

Kakkyo-yama
郭巨山
East, Nishinotoin-dori and Shijo-dori
This float is based on the anecdote that Kakkyo, an ancient dutiful Chinese, dug out a gold pot and took great care of his mother.

Kanko-hoko
函谷鉾
West, Karasuma-dori and Shijo-dori
This float is based on the anecdote that a famous ancient warrior in China succeeded in disguising his enemy into opening up a steep valley with a pretended rooster cry by one of his men.

Kikusui-hoko
菊水鉾
North, Muromachi-dori and Shijo-dori
This float was named after an ancient well that used to be in this place, and bears a large golden chrysanthemum flower at its top. It was restored in 1947 for the first time in 88 years.

Moso-yama
孟宗山
North, Karasuma-dori and Shijo-dori
This float is also called "Takenoko-yama". Takenoko is a bamboo shoot, which Moso, an ancient Chinese man, dug out of the snow-covered ground to feed his sick mother.

Naginata-hoko
長刀鉾
West, Higashinotoin-dori and Shijo-dori
This float leads the procession every year, and does not participate in the Procession Order Draw. It holds up a halberd (“Naginata”) at its top, which is said to have the power of driving away epidemics and evil spirits. At present, it is the only float in which a live child rides.

Niwatori-hoko
鶏鉾
South, Muromachi-dori and Shijo-dori
This float is based on an anecdote from an ancient Chinese dynasty, when the nation was so well ruled that the court drum went out of use and a hen laid eggs on it.

Shijokasa-hoko
四条傘鉾
West, Nishinotoin-dori and Shijo-dori
Along with Ayagasa-hoko, Shijokasa-hoko hands down a very old shape of floats.At the top of the umbrella (-kasa-/-gasa-) are attached paper decorations and a pine sapling.The dance accompanying the float was restored in 1988, and is performed by eight children including a halberd bearer.

Taishi-yama
太子山
South, Aburanokoji-dori and Bukkoji-dori
This float is based on an episode that Shotoku Taishi, a legendary prince, entered a forest to collect good wood for the construction of the Shitennoji Temple. Charms for wisdom are handed out.

Tokusa-yama
木賊山
West, Nishinotoin-dori and Bukkoji-dori
The float depicts a lonesome aged man who cuts scouring rush (tokusa) in Shinano, after having his child kidnapped.

Toro-yama
蟷螂山
South, Nishinotoin-dori and Shijo-dori
"Toro" signifies a praying mantis, a doll of which is decorated at the top of this float, interlocked to the wheels, and moves as the float goes. This is the only gimmicked float participating in Gion Matsuri.

Tsuki-hoko
月鉾
West, Muromachi-dori and Shijo-dori
This float holds up a crescent ornament at its top, and enshrines the moon god at the center seat. The plant drawing at the back of the float roof was drawn by Okyo Maruyama. Metal ornaments on the pole plates, four pillars etc. are amazing.

Urade-yama
占出山
East, Muromachi-dori and Nishikikoji-dori
This float is based on an anecdote of the Empress Jingu, who fished a sweetfish in Hizen (now Nagasaki), and announced that the fish was a sign of victory in the upcoming battle. Amulets for safe delivery are handed out.

Yamabushi-yama
山伏山
South, Aburanokoji-dori and Bukkoji-dori
This float features a famous yamabushi (traditional Japanese ascetic), who reportedly recovered the inclination of a temple tower by his mystic power.

Atomatsuri

Ennogyoja-yama
役行者山
North, Muromachi-dori and Sanjo-dori
This float depicts a fable that Ennogyoja, the founder of“Shugendo”(Japanese asceticism), who directed a god to build a stone bridge between Mt. Katsuragi and Mt.Omine.

Hachiman-yama
八幡山
South, Shinmachi-dori and Sanjo-dori
This float carries a miniature Hachiman Shrine, which was produced in the 18th century.

Hashibenkei-yama
橋弁慶山
East, Muromachi-dori and Takoyakushi-dori
This float depicts a well-known battle on the Gojo Bridge in Kyoto, between “Benkei”, a reknowned monk-warrior, and “Ushiwaka-maru”, a popular warrior “Yoshitsune Minamoto” as a youth.

Jomyo-yama
浄妙山
West, Karasuma-dori and Rokkaku-dori
This float depicts monk warriors of the Mii Temple, who fought fiercely against the Heike force in the reknowned Ujigawa Battle.

Kitakannon-yama
北観音山
South, Shinmachi-dori and Rokkaku-dori
This float has the statues of “Yoryu Kannon (merciful goddess)”and“Idaten (guardian deity)”on it. Pine wood is used for the framework. Metal ornaments are all very gorgeous.

Koi-yama
鯉山
South, Muromachi-dori and Rokkaku-dori
This float depicts a Chinese legend that a brave carp that can swim up through to the top of the “Ryumon” waterfall would become a dragon.

Kuronushi-yama
黒主山
South, Muromachi-dori and Sanjo-dori
This float depicts“Otomo no Kuronushi”, a popular ancient poet, who looks up at beautiful cherry blossoms.

Minamikannon-yama
南観音山
North, Shinmachi-dori and Nishikikoji-dori
This float does not participate in the Procession Order Draw, and is always the last ‘yama’ float in the Atomatsuri procession. It is also called “Kudarikannon”, and enshrines “Yoryu Kannon (merciful goddess)” and an accompanying saint. Willow branches are stuck on the float during procession.

Taka-yama
鷹山
West, Muromachi-dori and Sanjo-dori
This is a hiki-yama (towed float) that carries three dolls: a falconer, a hound handler, and a servant who shoulders a barrel and secretly eats chimaki. In 2022, Taka-yama returns to the procession for the first time in 196 years!

Ofune-hoko
大船鉾
South, Shinmachi-dori and Shijo-dori (Shijo-cho)
This float does not participate in the Procession Order Draw, and always goes at the very end of the Atomatsuri procession. It was lost in a big fire in 1864, but was restored in 2014 for the first time in 150 years.

Suzuka-yama
鈴鹿山
North, Karasuma-dori and Sanjo-dori
This float enshrines Goddess Suzuka, who defeated a demon that agonized people near Mt.Suzuka in Ise (present Mie Prefecture).