Gion Festival in Kyoto

One of the biggest feat aures of Japan is a Matsuri, an event that commemorate/celebrate historic milestones, the passing of the seasons, etc.
Joining a Matsuri is a wonderful part of any trip to Japan.

What is Gion Festival?

Kyoto is an ancient capital with many temples and shrines.

The Gion Festival is held at Yasaka Shrine in Kyoto from July 1st to 31st.

Various events are held over the course of a month, but the most famous ones are the Yamahoko Jungyo on 7/17(Sakimatsuri) and Yoiyama on 7/24 (Atomatsuri).

A number of people visit there every year to enjoy events!

Origin and History of the Gion Festival

It is said that the festival began in 869 during the early Heian period (794-1185), when an epidemic broke out in Kyoto, the portable shrine of Yasaka Shrine were sent to Shinsen-en to pray for the removal of the plague.

From the middle of the Heian period (794-1185), the scale of the festival grew larger and more lively with the addition of kuukuruma, dengaku, sarugaku, etc. By the Muromachi period (1333-1573), each town had its own characteristic float.

In the Muromachi period (1333-1573), the Gion Shoki (Gion Shrine Chronicle) records that each town had its own unique float.
The Gion Festival was cut off after the Onin War (1467), but it was revived in 1500, and from that time on, the lottery ceremony to determine the order of the procession of floats was held at the Samurai Office.
Since then, the decoration of the floats has become more extravagant due to the efforts of the townspeople. In modern times, many floats were destroyed by fire, but each time they were rebuilt thanks to the spirit of the townspeople, and they are still in use today.

Reference:
https://omatsurijapan.com/blog/gion_festival/
https://photo53.com/gionmatsuri-junko.php
https://www.yasaka-jinja.or.jp/event/gion/