As I mentioned in a previous post it’s probably more useful to learn about festivals before they occur rather than seeing photos of an event you just missed.

In exactly one month, on July 17th the main parade of floats will take place as part of Kyoto’s Gion Matsuri.

The huge floats are called Yamaboko and are dragged through the streets by teams of men. They do not go through the cobbled streets of Gion but rather trundle along the main shopping streets Shijo, Kawaramachi and Oike.

The streets are packed with spectators but usually you can find a spot where you can get a decent view. I recommend the main intersections as this is where the floats have to be rotated 90 degrees, an impressive feat of strength and teamwork.

Gion Matsuri, Kyoto

Gion Matsuri, Kyoto

You can read more about visiting Kyoto in my article The Best of Kyoto.