Gion matsuri festival in Kyoto 2024: Mikoshis, Yamahoko floats, and Yoiyamas!!! 祇園祭2024英語で説明

Building Yamaboko floats (鉾山建て)　17th July

Building of Yamohoko floats for Atomatsuri starts.

Yoiyama festival of Atomatsuri (後祭　宵山) from 21 to 23th July

Strongly もんげー recommended ズラ！！！

As I indicated, Kami has two aspects and so Yoiyama is. Yoiyama of Atomatsuri carries on in a calm and quiet atmosphere. This reminds us of the traditional Gion matsuri festival took place hundreds of years ago.

Yoiyama starts when twilight arrives. They starts at almost the same time, but the sky is quite different. Enjoy the difference.

Recommendation 1 Byobu-matsuri

As I indicated before, Yamahoko neighbers open up their houses to the visitors during Yoiyama period. Byobu-matsuri in Atomatsuri is very stunning. It must take your breath away.

The aliens indicate the places we can enjoy Byoubu matsuri.

Recommendation 2 “Kaisyo”, the Yamahoko headquarters

Koiyama 鯉山

Koiyama is based on an ancient Chinese anecdote that a carp climb up the fall called “Dragon gate” and became a dragon. The wooden carp is a Goshintai of Koiyama. It i s believed to bring us prosperity. It is an amazing work of Hidari Jingoro, a famous sculptor in Edo period.

Let us see a Koiyama. It is decorated with beautiful something like curtains. They are pieces of a tapestry made in Belgium around 17th century. When Date Masamune, a general in Tohoku region sent a mission to Pope, he gave the mission five tapestries. Koiyama bought one of them from a temple in Tohoku in 18th century. It was cut into nine pieces to put on Koiyama.

The tapestry shows us a scene of Iliad written by Homer. Gion matsuri has nothing to do with Torojan war. Why Iliad? The answer is very simple. They put the tapestry on Koiyama because it was new to them. Yamahoko has two roles. The one is to gather evil spirits and the other is to entertain Kamis come to the ancient Kyoto city on Mikoshi. The strange tapestry was suitable for the latter role.

Hachimanyama 八幡山

Hachimanyama has a shrine emperor Ojin enshrined on it.

A pair of wooden doves right side are also made by Hidari Jingoro.

They are put on Torii gate.

These exquisite cranes are made in Edo period.

Kuronusiyama 黒主山

The goshintai is Otomo Kuronushi, a famous poet in Heian period.

We can see stunning carpets at Kuronushiyama.

Sencha Kencha sai 煎茶献茶祭 23th July

Cups of Sencha (common tea in Japan) are dedicated in the main hall of Yasaka shrine.

Biwa Hono 琵琶奉納 23th July

Biwa is a traditional stramming instrument in Japan. Compositions played with it at Yasaka shrine.

Matatabisha Ohaek Kiyoharae Shiki 又旅社オハケ清祓式 23th

Ohake is a wooden stick pieces of paper hang on. At Yasakajinnjya Matatabisha, a sub-shrine of Yasaka shrine, three Ohake are prepared for welcoming three Deities of Yasaka shrine.

14:00~ At Yasakajinnjya Matatabisha

En no Gyojyayama Gomadaki Kuyo 役行者山護摩焚供養 23th

Yamabushi is a kind of monk who trains themselves in rural mountain to gain supernatural power. In En no Gyojyayama Gomadaki Kuyo, Yamabushi belong to Shogoin temple make small bonfire to rest the soul of the desceased in peace.

Around 14:00~ In front of Kaisho of En no Gyojya yama

Abare kannnon あばれ観音 23th of July

Minami Kannonoyama has a statue of Yoryukannon as Goshintai. Around midnight, people wrap her with sheets of cloth and put her on a simple Mikoshi to make her “roared.”

Around 23:00~ 大暴れ開始 in front of  Minamikanno yama Kaisho

Hanagasa parade (花傘巡行) 24th July

Once Yamahoko parade of Atomatsuri was put together to that of Sakimatsuri , this Hanagasa parade introduced. Yamahoko parade devided into Sakimatsuri and Atomatsuri again i 2017, but Hanagasa parade was not abolished.

Around 10:00~ 　The parade departs Yasaka shrine

Yamahoko parade (山鉾巡行) 24th July

On the day, the spiris of Kamis go back to Yasaka shrine. Yamahoko parade also take place anew. They took the opposite direction of the Yamahoko parade of Saki matsuri.

Kanko sai (還幸祭) 24th July

Three mikoshis come back to Yasaka shrine. Nakagoza goes there by way of Shinsen-en, where Ginomatsuri festival began some 1,000 years ago.

Purification of water for rituals (神用水清祓式), 28th July

The same ritual as held on the 10th of July is held on the Shijo bridge.

Purification of portable shrine (神輿洗式), 28th July

The same ritual as held on the 10th of July is held to purify mikoshi.

Sinjizumi Hokokusai 神事済奉告祭　7月29日

Prior to the announcement on the 31th, the end of Gion matsuri is reported to the Deities of Yasaka shrine.

Nagoshi Sai at Eki shrine (疫神社夏越祭), 31th July

At Eki shrine, the sub-shrine of Yasaka shrine, people pass through Chino-wa put on to Torii gate and let evil spirits go away. We can have Chigaya plant and make Chinowa with it. Susanono-mikoto saves us from anything evil.

In this ritual the end of Gion matsuri festival is announced.