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KYOTO GION MATSURI

KYOTO GIONMATSURI

Gion Matsuri is one of the three major festivals in Japan. This festival of Yasaka Shrine and Kyoto townspeople was reportedly originated in 869, when 66 pikes were donated to the Shinsen-en imperial garden, to enshrine a god of the plague. The festival was then held annually since 970, and the prototype of floats was complete in 999. The history of Gion Matsuri was interrupted by the Onin civil war (1467 - 1477), and was resumed in 1500 after the cessation for 33 years. The tradition also survived massive fires in 1708, 1788 and 1864, as well as diverse other incidents and changes. Originally, Gion Matsuri was called Gion-e or Gion Goryo-e; Goryo-e was a requiem festival to pray for the repose of souls of people who died from plague or violence.

Procession Order for Festival 2024

The order of floats in the procession of Gion Matsuri 2024 was determined by draw at the Kuji-tori (Procession Order Draw) ceremony on July 2.
Sakimatsuri
1
  • 長刀鉾
  • 籤取らず
  • 長刀鉾
  • Naginata-hoko
2
  • 山1番
  • 油天神山
  • Aburatenjin-yama
3
  • 山2番
  • 伯牙山
  • Hakuga-yama
4
  • 山3番
  • 白楽天山
  • Hakurakuten-yama
5
  • 籤取らず
  • 函谷鉾
  •  Knako-hoko 
6
  • 山4番
  • 山伏山
  • Yamabushi-yama
7
  • 傘鉾1番
  • 綾傘鉾
  • Ayakasa-hoko
8
  • 山5番
  • 保昌山
  • Hosho-yama
9
  • 鉾
  • 鉾1番
  • 鶏鉾
  • Niwatori-hoko
10
  • 山6番
  • 霰天神山
  • Araretenjin-yama
11
  • 山7番
  • 芦刈山
  • Ashikari-yama
12
  • 山8番
  • 孟宗山
  • Moso-yama
13
  • 鶏鉾
  • 鉾2番
  • 月鉾
  • Tsuki-hoko 
14
  • 山9番
  • 太子山
  • Taishi-yama
15
  • 傘鉾2番
  • 四条傘鉾
  • Sijyokasa-hoko
16
  • 山10番
  • 蟷螂山
  • Toro-yama
17
  • 鉾
  • 鉾3番
  • 菊水鉾
  • Kikusui-hoko 
18
  • 山11番
  • 木賊山
  • Tokusa-yama
19
  • 山12番
  • 郭巨山
  • Kakkyo-yama
20
  • 山13番
  • 占出山
  • Urade-yama
21
  • 放下鉾
  • 籤取らず
  • 放下鉾
  • Hoka-hoko
22
  • 籤取らず
  • 岩戸山
  • Iwato-yama
23
  • 船鉾
  • 籤取らず
  • 船鉾
  • Fune-hoko
1
  • 橋弁慶山
  • 籤取らず
  • 橋弁慶山
  • Hashibenkei-yama
2
  • 南観音山
  • 籤取らず
  • 北観音山
  • Kitakanon-yama
3
  • 山
  • 山1番
  • 黒主山
  • Kuronushi-yama
4
  • 山2番
  • 鯉山
  • koi-yama
5
  • 山3番
  • 鈴鹿山
  • Suzuka-yama
6
  • 籤取らず
  • 南観音山
  • Minamikanon-yama
7
  • 山4番
  • 浄妙山
  • Jomyo-yama
8
  • 山5番
  • 八幡山
  • Hachiman-yama
9
  • 山6番
  • 役行者山
  • Ennogyojya-yama
10
  • 鷹山
  • 籤取らず
  • 鷹山
  • Taka-yama
11
  • 大船鉾
  • 籤取らず
  • 大船鉾
  • Ofune-hoko

Event Schedule for 2024

July Event Location
1st through 5th Kippu-iri (Initiation Ceremony) Individual Float Towns
1st Naginata-hoko Cho Osendo (Naginata-hoko Townspeople's Visit to Yasaka Shrine) Yasaka Shrine
2nd Kuji-tori Shiki (Procession Order Draw Ceremony) Kyoto City Hall(Assembly House)
2nd Yama-hoko Cho Shasan (Float Townspeople's Visit to Yasaka Shrine) Yasaka Shrine
10th Omukae Chochin (Welcome Lantern) Yasaka Shrine and Kyoto City Hall
10th Mikoshi-arai (Portable Shrine Purification) Shijo Ohashi Bridge
10th through 13th Hoko-tate for Sakimatsuri (Hoko Float Assembly) Individual Float Towns for Sakimatsuri
10th through 15th Kiyo-harai (Town Purification) Individual Float Community of Sakimatsuri
12th through 13th Hoko Hiki-zome (First Float Towing) Individual Float Community of Sakimatsuri
13th Takahashi-cho Shasan (Takahashi-cho Officials’ Visit to Yasaka Shrine) Yasaka Shrine
13th Naginata-hoko Chigo Shasan (Naginata-hoko Float Child’s Visit to Yasaka Shrine) Yasaka Shrine
13th Kuze Komagata Chigo Shasan (Kuze Komagata Child’s Visit to Yasaka Shrine) Yasaka Shrine
12th through 14th Yama-tate (Yama Float Assembly) & Cho-kaisho Kazari-tsuke (Town Hall Decoration) Individual Float Community of Sakimatsuri
14th Ichiri-zuka Matsukazari-shiki (Milestone Decoration) Matsubara Nakano-cho
14th through 16th Byobu Matsuri for Sakimatsuri (Citizens’ Home Exhibition) Individual Float Community for Sakimatsuri
15th Takahashi-cho Imitake-tate (Divine Bamboo Setting) Shijo Fuyamachi (Fuyamachi-dori and Shijo-dori)
15th Mitarai no Ido-biraki (Well Water Purification) Shijo Fuyamachi (Fuyamachi-dori and Shijo-dori)
15th Yoimiya-sai (Holy Spirit Transition to Portable Shrines) Yasaka Shrine
16th Kencha-shiki (Tea Offering Ceremony) Yasaka Shrine
16th Goma-taki
(Holy Wood Burning)
Ennogyoja-yama
16th Sagimai and Dengaku
(Traditional Dancing)
Yasaka Shrine
16th Yoi-yama (Festival Eve) event for Sakimatsuri
Individual Float Community of Sakimatsuri
16th Hiyori Kagura
(Clear Weather Prayer)
Shijo Otabisho
17th Yama-hoko Junko (Float Procession) Shijo Karasuma (Karasuma-dori and Shijo-dori) to Kawaramachi-dori and to Oike-dori
17th Shinko-sai
(Portable Shrine Procession)
Yasaka Shrine and Shijo Otabisho
18th through 20th Yama-tate for Atomatsuri is started in steps
(Yama Float Assembly)
Individual Float Community of Atomatsuri
17th through 24th Mugon Mairi
(Silent Visit to Festival God)
Individual Float Community of Atomatsuri
23rd Imitake-tate and Ohake Shinji
(Divine Corner Setting)
Shijo Otabisho
23rd Sencha Kencha-sai and Biwa Hono
(Tea and Biwa Music Offering)
Yasaka Shrine
21st through 24th Yoi-yama (Festival Eve) event for Atomatsuri Individual Float Community of Atomatsuri
24th Atomatsuri Junko
(Atomatsuri Procession)
Karasuma Oike (Karasuma-dori and Oike-dori) to Kawaramachi-dori, Shijo-dori, and to Shijo Karasuma (Karasuma-dori and Shijo-dori)
24th Hanagasa Junko
(Hanagasa Procession)
Kyoto City Hall and Yasaka Shrine
24th Kanko-sai
(Holy Spirit Return to Yasaka Shrine)
Yasaka Shrine and Shijo Otabisho
25th Kyogen Hono
(Kyogen Offering)
Yasaka Shrine (Noh Stage)
28th Mikoshi Arai
(Portable Shrine Purification)
Shijo Ohashi Bridge
29th Shinji-zumi Hokoku-sai
(Report of Festival Completion)
Yasaka Shrine
31st Eki-jinja Nagoshi-saii
(Citizen Purification)
Yasaka Shrine Precincts