Kyoto

Setting up for Gion Matsuri

Kyoto's biggest festival taking shape in the streets

Cathy Cawood Jul 06, 2014 - 1 min read

<p>Beginning to build one of the large two story Gion floats  </p>

<p>The struts are held together by wooden pegs and rope</p>

<p>Some of the floats are decorated with live pine or bamboo branches</p>

<p>Information centers and Gion Matsuri souvenir stands are set up</p>

<p>The tall floats can be seen from far away</p>

<p>Food and amusement stalls line selected streets</p>

<p>Many of the floats feature strings of large paper lanterns</p>

<p>The ceiling of one of the festival floats</p>

<p>Valuable float hangings are covered with plastic to protect them from rain</p>

<p>I really liked these huge blue tassels</p>

<p>Some of the two story floats are connected to buildings with bridges so that people can enter the floats (for a fee, of course)</p>

<p>The small side streets get pretty crowded</p>

A festival on the scale of Gion Matsuri takes a lot of work and organization. I heard the musicians practice the strange haunting festival music for months in advance. As for the floats, they begin building them on July 10 so they are ready for the three festival nights before the procession. As builders construct the floats it's business as usual in Kyoto's bustling Shijo Karasuma area, but it's a great time for sightseers to check out the floats. There are also opportunities to visit traditional wooden Kyoto townhouses and enjoy displays of antique screens.

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Cathy Cawood @cathy.cawood

I came to Japan in 2003 to teach English. I lived in Shiga prefecture for 1 year, and it still holds a special place in my heart. I lived in Kyoto for 9 years, then moved to Machida, Tokyo in 2014 after meeting my Japanese partner. I love to take photos, and my Japan in Pictures Facebook page ha...