What is Gion Festival ?

1
(No Transcript)
2
What is Gion Matsuri?

• A festival held in Kyoto, Japan for the entire
  month of July.
• All events are funded, arranged, and performed by
  the citizens on Kyoto.
• The festival is to celebrate a Shinto priest who
  appeased the gods, and ended the plague of 869
  A.D.

3
Gion Matsuri Festival Schedule and Locations

• The Gion Matsuri is a month-long series of
  events. However, many of the events are
  relatively small and of only local interest. The
  events of most interest to travelers are listed
  here.
• 14 July (dusk to 10pm) Yoi-yoi-yoi-yama street
  party, Shijo-dori
• 15 July (dusk to 10pm) Yoi-yoi-yama street
  party, Shijo-dori
• 16 July (dusk to 10pm) Yoi-yama street party,
  Shijo-dori
• 17 July (9am to 11.30am) Main float procession
  (Yamaboko Junko), downtown streets
• 21 July (dusk to 10pm) Yoi-yoi-yoi-yama street
  party, Shijo-dori
• 22 July (dusk to 10pm) Yoi-yoi-yama street
  party, Shijo-dori
• 23 July (dusk to 10pm) Yoi-yama street party,
  Shijo-dori
• 24 July (9.30am to 11.30am) Second float
  procession (Ato Matsuri Yamaboko Junko), downtown
  streets

4
Floats and History
The word Yamaboko refers to the two types of
floats used in the procession the 23 yama and 10
hoko. One of the main reasons the Gion Matsuri is
so impressive is the enormity of the hoko, which
are up to 25 meters tall, weigh up to 12 tons,
and are pulled on wheels as big as people. Both
yama and hoko are elaborately decorated and
represent unique themes. The procession on July
17 features 23 yama and hoko, including most of
the particularly impressive hoko, while the
procession on July 24 features the remaining ten
yama and hoko.
5
Yama and Hoko Festival Floats
The Gion Matsuri is centered on a collection of
32 magnificent parade floats known collectively
as yamaboko. Of these, there are 9 enormous
yama floats and 23 smaller (but still grand)
hoko floats. Some of the yama
weigh as much as 12 tons and soar to 25 meters in
height (when measured to the tip of their long
central poles). The floats are built of superbly
crafted wood and decorated with sumptuous
Nishijin textiles. Resting on wheels as large as
a man, each one is a movable collection of some
of Kyotos finest craftsmanship and artistry. 
6
Yoi-Yama Evening Street Parties
7
Yoi-Yama Evening Street Parties
A few days before each procession, the yamaboko
are brought out of warehouses and assembled in
designated spots on the major downtown streets of
Kyoto (the main one being Shijo-dori Street
between the Kamo-gawa River and Horikawa-dori).
On the three evenings before each procession
(14/15/16 July and 21/22/23 July), these streets
are closed to vehicle traffic and people
promenade around the yamaboko carousing, eating
and drinking. These events are called
Yoi-yoi-yoi-yama, Yoi-yoi-yama and Yoi-yama,
respectively. Many young ladies and some young
men wear light cotton yukata robes, which makes
these events very picturesque.
8
The Main Event The Float Procession of 17 July
Starting at 9am on 17 July, 23 of the huge yama
and hoko are hauled from their staging places
around the Shijo-Karasama intersection east along
Shijo-dori, then north along Kawaramachi-dori,
before turning west on Oike-dori. The official
endpoint is at the Oike-Karasuma intersection.
The procession ends around 11.30am. There are
official viewing stands on Oike-dori, but theres
no need to try to get tickets to one of those.
You can watch the procession at any point along
the route. Perhaps the most interesting places to
watch are near the corners, where you can observe
the painstaking process of making these massive
floats change direction. 
9
The Ato Matsuri (After Matsuri) The Float
Procession of July 24 (Ato Matsuri Junko)
In 2014, for the first time in almost 50 years, a
second float procession was held. This second
procession is known as the Ato Matsuri, which
means After Matsuri. The event will now be held
annually. This is a smaller procession in which
only 10 of the yamaboko are pulled through the
streets of downtown Kyoto. In this event, the
yamaboko are pulled along a route that is the
reverse of the main processions route. The
procession starts at 9.30am and ends around
11.30am. 
10
Quick Facts

• Gion Matsuri is held over a period of one month
  in July
• The main processions take place on July 17 (Sama
  Matsuri Junko) and July 24 (Ato Matsuri Junko)
• The biggest floats in the parade are known as
  yamaboko and weigh up to 12 tons

11
THANK YOU !!
To Know Details Visit This Site https//www.gionfe
stival.org/