Hanagasa Flower Hat Procession
Right after the second Yamaboko procession on July 24th is one of my favorite parade in Kyoto, the Hanagasa Junko. With a large number of costumed participants, it’s a real treat for photographers. . .
Yamaboko Grand Parade – Ato Matsuri
On the 24th, the procession of floats (Yamaboko Junko) also starts at 9:00 and last to about 11:30. This is the second procession (Atomatsuri) featuring only 10 large floats. It follows a different route. . .
Yamaboko Junko, Gion Matsuri
This year’s “Yamaboko Junko” parade of huge wooden festival floats (Yama and Hoko) took place under heavy rain (we were spare a typhoon but got a tropical storm). There were talks of cancelation, but I’ve heard that . . .
Shirabyoshi Dancer, Gion Matsuri
The Gion Matsuri is Kyoto’s largest festival. it is a unique opportunity to see a number of Japanese traditions, religious processions, dances, music, historical costumes, etc. Here, Shirabyōshi (白拍子) female dancers . . .
Hoko and Yama Construction
The festival’s 23 floats are assembled in the communities they belong to. This is a great opportunity for getting a close up look at the floats and the way they are made. The way these are put together is pretty amazing – no nails are...
Mikoshi Arai – Purification
During the festival, the deities of Yasaka Shrine reside in a temporary shrine called the Otabisho (on the south side of Shijo, just east of Teramachi). Before moving the deities on the mikoshi portable shrines, the mikoshi are purified with water from the Kamo River....
Omukae Chochin – Welcoming Lanterns
This year’s Gion Matsuri is starting. Little and large events are taking place around the city. We can already feel the presence of a larger than usual number of people, mainly around Shijo / Kawaramachi streets. The construction of the Hoko and Yama has...
Nagoshi no Harae Summer Purification
Every year, at the end of June, many shrines hold an ancient Japanese purification rite called “Nagoshi no Harae”. In this ceremony people atone for their sins . . .
Equestrian Festival at the Fujinomori Shrine
The Fujinomori’s festival is famous for the Kakeuma Shinji Shinto ritual that shows skills of handstand and “Fujikudari” (pretending to have been hit by an enemy’s arrow) while riding . . .
