At the end of July, I visited Kyoto for the first time in a while. I had two purposes for this trip. The first was to see the latter part of the Gion Festival. The second was to visit Villa Kujōyama, where my friend is living.
First, let’s talk about the Gion Festival. This festival is a long event that lasts throughout July. It started in the 9th century and continues to this day, representing one of Japan’s most famous festivals. Originally, it was held to ward off epidemics that spread in the summer and to dispel the evil spirits that caused them. The highlights are the “Yamahoko Junko” processions, which include the “Saki Matsuri” (the former festival, July 17) and the “Ato Matsuri” (the latter festival, July 24), where magnificent floats parade through the streets.
About ten years ago, I was overwhelmed when I saw the Saki Matsuri, so I decided to come this time to see the Ato Matsuri. In the Ato Matsuri, there are fewer floats, and there are no street stalls. I started by observing the preparation of the floats early in the morning. Then, at 9:30 AM, I took up a spot along the road near the Kyoto City Hall and waited for the floats to come. There were a total of 11 floats. Each one was unique, beautiful, and grand. By a little past 11 AM, I had seen all the floats pass by.
I do not guide tours in Kyoto, but I am interested in the issue of overtourism currently occurring there. I visited Kyoto for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, and while I did see many foreign tourists, it was fewer than I had expected.
During the Ato Matsuri of the Gion Festival, it seemed that the majority of spectators were Japanese. Additionally, I found that I could board buses without much delay. This could be due to the fact that it is well known that Kyoto’s summer is extremely hot and humid, and it is not the peak season like spring or autumn.
The images are arranged in the order of the procession.