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To say Kyoto has a popularity for being conservative is an understatement. Certainly, whether or not amongst vacationers who assume it’s merely a metropolis of temples, shrines and museums, to Japanese folks whose criticisms are based mostly extra on behavioral and linguistic quirks, Kyoto isn’t often a spot you affiliate with enjoyable.
Now, I may present a complete host of counterexamples to this, however let’s assume for the sake of argument that it’s true. There’s nonetheless one time frame you may come to Kyoto and expertise unambiguous jubilation.
I’m talking, in fact, concerning the Kyoto Gion Matsuri, a competition that takes over the town in July of every yr. Whether or not you need to attend Gion Matsuri 2024, 2025 or any yr sooner or later, I believe you’ll need to proceed studying.
When Does Gion Matsuri Take Place in 2024?
Whereas it’s not correct to say that the Kyoto competition lasts for all of July, there are extra probabilities to see it than there are for different summer time festivals round Japan. The principle occasion of the Gion Matsuri, the Yamaboko Junko parade, takes place the mornings of July 17 and July 24. It follows a backwards-c formed procession down Shijo-dori, up Kawaramachi-dori and again down Oike-dori on the seventeenth, and in reverse on the twenty fourth.
Throughout the three nights continuing every of those parades, competition floats (referred to as yama and hoko—there’s the place Yamaboko Junko will get is title from) are arrange within the small streets simply to the west of Karasuma-dori between Shijo-dori and Sanjo-dori. Alongside the lit-up floats, going to the yoiyama (evening competition) you’ll have the ability to take pleasure in restricted music and dance performances, in addition to foods and drinks and a typically competition surroundings.
What to Do at Gion Matsuri
Choose a weekend
Whereas the Gion Matsuri doesn’t all the time fall over a weekend, as a traveler, you may consider it as if it does: The yoimatsuri happen on “Friday” and “Saturday” nights (“Thursday” as nicely, in case you’re tremendous freaky); the parade is on Sunday morning. Since there are few variations between the 2 weekends, I’d say merely to pick the one which works finest together with your schedule.
Begin with the evening competition
Except you solely have one spare day, I like to recommend arriving to the Gion competition (at minimal) the evening earlier than the Yamaboko Junko. Along with making it straightforward so that you can get to the parade’s beginning space in time, this will even help you expertise the yoimatsuri. To me, whether or not in Kyoto or elsewhere in Japan, it’s the nighttime festivals the actually embody the matsuri ambiance.
(And meals)
It’s typically thought-about dangerous style to eat whereas strolling in Japan, however a summer time competition tends to be an exception to this rule. So far as what to eat—nicely, that is determined by you. Clearly, since it will likely be scorching and you’ll be parched, kakigori (aka Japanese snow cones) are a preferred choice. Nevertheless, all manners of different meals can be found, together with a restricted variety of sit-down eating places.
Save the most effective for final
Structurally, the Kyoto Gion Pageant ensures an superior payoff. No matter what number of nights you do the yoimatsuri, and irrespective of the way you spend the opposite days, the Yamaboko Junko makes certain your time right here ends on a excessive observe. For the remainder expertise, I like to recommend attending to the beginning place a minimum of half-hour earlier than 9 AM to make sure you get a great place.
(Perhaps) head to Osaka subsequent
Should you select the second “weekend” of Kyoto’s annual competition, then you may head straight to Osaka to partake within the aforementioned Tenjin Matsuri—nicely, sort of. You see, the primary day of Osaka’s competition (July 24) is a bit boring and…preparatory. I like to recommend heading to the town and getting rested, so that you simply’re headed to go at Osaka Tenman-gu shrine at 3 PM sharp on July 25.
Is Gion Matsuri Value It?
The yr I did Gion Matsuri, I additionally attended the Tenjin Matsuri in close by Osaka, plus the Aomori Nebuta Matsuri and Akita Kanto Matsuri up in Tohoku. Whereas Kyoto’s competition felt considerably muted compared, notably within the case of the Tohoku ones, it nonetheless eased me into the matsuri temper, which I don’t assume would’ve been as straightforward if I’d began up north. (Kyoto can also be typically a neater metropolis to take pleasure in than Akita or Aomori, to be honest.)
I’d say that in case you plan to be in Japan (and fairly near Kyoto) through the center of Japan, then it’s positively worthwhile to attend the Kyoto matsuri. That is true—particularly so, possibly—in case you assume you gained’t have time to attend different festivals. At worst, it’ll plant a seed in you to go additional out of your approach to attend different festivals sooner or later.
Different FAQ About Kyoto’s Gion Matsuri
Do you want tickets for Gion Matsuri?
You don’t want tickets merely to spectate upon Kyoto’s Gion Matsuri, though there are reserved seating areas in case you want to sit down whereas watching the parade. Certainly, a part of why I like the competition a lot is you can pop out and in as you please—it truly is a public spectacle.
How lengthy does Gion Matsuri final?
The Yamaboko Junko parade lasts a number of hours—from 9:00-13:00 on July 17, and from 9:00-11:30 on July 24. Nevertheless, the festive temper units in over Kyoto through the night of July 14, when the primary yoiyama (evening competition) begins close to the Shijo-Karasuma interplay. These evening festivals additionally happen on July 15, 16, 21, 22 and 23.
How a lot does Gion Matsuri value?
The Gion Matsuri is free to attend in case you merely want to stroll amid the yoiyama and to look at the parade whereas standing or strolling beside. Nevertheless, seat and VIP tour packages can usually value a number of thousand yen, relying upon the place you purchase your package deal and the way far upfront you buy it.
The Backside Line
Kyoto Gion Matsuri flies within the face of Kyoto’s conservative popularity when it takes over the town each July. Whether or not you’re planning to come back in 2024, or are planning a Gion Matsuri 2025 journey far upfront, I hope this put up has been useful from a sensible perspective, but in addition by way of serving to you set expectations for what the competition will really feel like. the Kyoto matsuri lasts longer than most others in Japan, and takes up extra actual property throughout the metropolis, which makes it barely simpler to attend. Want personalised assist incorporating Gion Matsuri into your journey? Think about hiring me to plan a customized Japan itinerary!
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