Urade-Yama (占出山) During the Yamaboko Junko (山鉾巡行) in Kyoto, 2012! This float portrays a famous story of when Empress Jingu, a legendary rather than historical heroine of Japan, went fishing for Ayu (sweet fish) when she was in Hizen (present day Saga prefecture in northern Kyushu) in order to cast a horoscope about the victory or defeat of the Imperial campaign (Photo: Hugo Kempeneer)

Gion Matsuri in Photos: Part 3

A pictorial overview of Kyoto's big summer festival

Hugo Kempeneer   - 1 min read

The final parade, the Ato Matsuri, will parade through the streets on the 24th of July. It’s the first time in almost 50 years that the Gion Matsuri has been split in two. It will commence at Karasuma-Oike Dori at 10.00am, pass by City Hall and then turn onto Kawaramachi Dori and turn again onto Shiho Dori till it reaches Shijo-Kawaramachi corner. Another parade, this is new, the Hanagasa Flower Hat Procession will commence from Yasaka Shrine and go along Shijo Dori, onto Oike Dori and then back to Yasaka Shrine. Featured here are: Shijogasa-hoko, Suzuka-Yama, Taishi-yama, Tokusa-Yama, Tourou-Yama, Tsuki-Hoko, Urade-Yama, Yamabushi-Yama, Moso-Yama and Koi-Yama.

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Find out more about Yasaka Shrine.

Hugo Kempeneer

Hugo Kempeneer @hugo.kempeneer

I was born in Antwerp, Belgium, and enjoyed my teenage years during the peak of the "Flower Power Hippie" generation. I hitchhiked through Europe, living on a beach south of Agadir, Morocco for some time to learn English. Aside from Japan, I have lived in Indonesia, the Philippines, South Kore...