To Our Dear Guests,
With the arrival of true summer,
Kyoto once again comes alive with one of its most iconic traditional events—Gion Matsuri! 🥳✨
⛩️✨⛩️✨⛩️
Recognized as one of the Three Great Festivals of Japan and designated as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, this thousand-year-old festival transforms Kyoto into a city of celebration throughout July.
⛩️✨⛩️✨⛩️
Centered around Yasaka Shrine, Gion Matsuri unfolds across the streets of downtown Kyoto, with spectacular rituals, sacred processions, and community-driven traditions known as Yamaboko events.
⛩️✨⛩️✨⛩️
This article will guide you through the key events and highlights of Gion Matsuri—from the vibrant Yoiyama nights to the stunning Yamaboko processions—a must-see summer tradition in Kyoto! 🎐🏮
⛩️✨⛩️✨⛩️
⛩️ 【Gion Matsuri 2026 | Festival Overview】
📅 Festival Period: July 1 – July 31, 2026
🎎 Host Shrine: Yasaka Shrine
📍 Main Venues: Shijo Street, Karasuma Street, Oike Street and surrounding areas
⛩️✨⛩️✨⛩️
🔥 【Highlights】
⛩️【Yamahoko Float Construction】
📅 July 9–13 (See the image for additional float-building dates)
✨ Watch the iconic festival floats being assembled using traditional carpentry techniques without a single nail
🏮【Welcome Lantern Procession】
📅 July 10
⏰ 4:30 PM – 9:00 PM
✨ A colorful lantern procession departs from Yasaka Shrine and parades through downtown Kyoto
⏰ 4:30 PM Yasaka Shrine → Shijo Street → Kyoto City Hall (5:30–6:30 PM traditional dance performance & break) → Teramachi Street → Shijo Street → Welcome the mikoshi at Yasaka Shrine → Higashioji Street → Return to Yasaka Shrine around 8:30 PM
⛩️✨⛩️✨⛩️
⛩️【Yoiyama (Former Festival)】
📅 July 14–16
⏰ 6:00 PM – 11:00 PM (Pedestrian Zone)
✨ Enjoy illuminated festival floats, traditional Gion festival music, the Byobu Matsuri (historic folding screen displays), and delicious street food
📍 Shijo-Karasuma / Muromachi Street / Shinmachi Street / Karasuma Street
⛩️【Yamahoko Procession (Former Festival)】
📅 July 17 (23 festival floats)
⏰ 9:00 AM Shijo-Karasuma → 9:35 AM Shijo-Kawaramachi
⏰ → 10:20 AM Kawaramachi-Oike → 11:20 AM Shinmachi-Oike
✨ A total of 23 floats (9 hoko & 14 yama) parade through central Kyoto
✨ Don’t miss the spectacular Tsuji-mawashi, where the giant floats dramatically pivot at intersections
⛩️✨⛩️✨⛩️
🏮【Shinko-sai (Sacred Mikoshi Procession)】
📅 July 17 | From 6:00 PM
⏰ 6:00 PM Yasaka Shrine
⏰ 9:00 PM Shijo Otabisho
✨ Three sacred portable shrines (mikoshi) leave Yasaka Shrine and parade through Kyoto at night in one of the festival’s most important rituals
⛩️✨⛩️✨⛩️
✨✨
⛩️【Yoiyama (Later Festival)】
📅 July 21–23
⏰ Lights out around 9:00 PM
✨ With no food stalls, the Later Festival offers a quieter atmosphere, perfect for leisurely appreciating the beautiful floats
⛩️【Yamahoko Procession (Later Festival)】
📅 July 24 (11 festival floats)
⏰ 9:30 AM Karasuma-Oike → 10:00 AM Kawaramachi-Oike
⏰ → 10:40 AM Shijo-Kawaramachi → 11:20 AM Shijo-Karasuma
✨ Featuring 11 floats, this procession is smaller than the Former Festival and offers a more peaceful atmosphere for enjoying Kyoto’s timeless traditions
⛩️✨⛩️✨⛩️
🏮【Kanko-sai (Return Procession)】
📅 July 24 | 5:00 PM – Late Night
⏰ 5:00 PM Shijo Otabisho
⏰ 10:00–11:00 PM Yasaka Shrine
✨ The three sacred mikoshi return to Yasaka Shrine, bringing the month-long festival to a ceremonial close.
⛩️【Hanagasa Procession】
📅 July 24
⏰ From 9:30 AM
✨ Maiko, samurai performers, children, and colorful flower parasol processions parade through Kyoto’s streets.
✨ Shimogyo Junior High School Seitoku Campus → Shijo Otabisho → Yasaka Shrine
⛩️✨⛩️✨⛩️
🌟 In total, 23 Yamaboko floats appear during the first parade and 11 in the second. Each float is about 25 meters tall, weighs up to 12 tons, and is pulled through the streets by 40–50 people.
🌟 Yoiyama refers to the festive evenings before the processions, with both early and late events. Lanterns decorate the streets and turn Kyoto into a magical open-air night market. 🏮
🚇【Getting There】
🚃 Hankyu Line: Karasuma Station, Kawaramachi Station
🚃 Keihan Line: Gion-Shijo Station
🚌 City Bus: Take Route 206 from Kyoto Station to Gion
🚉 Subway: Karasuma-Oike Station, Shijo Station (walking distance)
⛩️⛩️⛩️⛩️⛩️
✨✨✨✨✨
✨Experience Kyoto’s summertime at FUGASTAY Shijo Omiya！
Our hotel is located in the heart of Kyoto, offering excellent access to the main Yamaboko parade routes along Shijo and Karasuma Streets—all within walking distance.
From the magical glow of Yoiyama, the sounds of traditional festival music, the lively Mikoshi processions, to the serene atmosphere of the Later Festival Nights,—enjoy the full experience of Kyoto’s summer festival in the comfort of our relaxing, Japanese-style accommodations.
⛩️✨
Sincerely look forward to your visit!
⛩️✨⛩️✨⛩️
- You can book your stay from our home page!
- If there is anything you don’t understand after the appointment, please call for advice.
FUGASTAYSHIJIOOMIYA MANAGER