日本三大祭の一つで、1000年以上の歴史を持つ京都の『祇園祭』。疫病退散を祈願する［八坂神社］（京都府京都市東山区）の神事で、毎年7月1日から31日までの1ヶ月間、［八坂神社］をはじめ京都市内で、さまざまな祭事が行われる。なかでも、7月17日と7月24日に行われる全34基（前祭23基、後祭11基）の山鉾巡行と八坂神社の神輿渡御（みこしとぎょ）は最大の見どころ。
宵山とは、山鉾巡行（7月17日・24日）の3日前・前々日・前日の総称で、各山鉾町の駒形提灯が灯り、山鉾からは祇園囃子が流れ、賑わいを見せる風情溢れる期間のこと。

During Yoiyama, each Yamahoko will offer Hachimaki and Goshuin (red seals), as well as display their precious treasures such as gorgeous ornaments and gojintai (sacred objects) that are hung on pedestals during the Yamahoko procession. Twenty-three floats will be erected in the city for the Mae-matsuri and 11 for the Goto-matsuri, so be sure to check out and visit the floats that interest you.
⚫︎前祭の宵山期間（7月14〜16日）※巡行順
長刀鉾・郭巨山・占出山・山伏山・函谷鉾・油天神山・綾傘鉾・太子山・月鉾・蟷螂山・孟宗山・保昌山・鶏鉾・木賊山・四条傘鉾・霰天神山・菊水鉾・伯牙山・白楽天山・芦刈山・放下鉾・岩戸山・船鉾
⚫︎後祭の宵山期間（7月21〜23日）
橋弁慶山・北観音山・鯉山・八幡山・浄妙山・南観音山・鈴鹿山・役行者山・黒主山・鷹山・大船鉾

The "Kaijo" decoration is the main attraction of the Yoiyama festival. At the center of each float's operation, called the "town meeting place," valuable items are displayed, such as the gorgeous ornaments and gojintai (sacred objects) that are hung on the float's pedestal during the procession.
Rare carpets and other items made in China and India between the 16th and 18th centuries are used, and each float has its own unique design.
It is only in Yoiyama that you can take your time to appreciate the precious items that are not easily seen in detail during the Yamaboko procession.

<Advice.
To show respect to the deities, please remove your hats. Please note that photography is not permitted. If you are lucky, you may be able to get an explanation of the suspended ornaments.

During Yoiyama, visitors can receive chimaki, a good-luck charm made of bamboo leaves to ward off epidemics and other calamities.
［The origin of this festival is that Susanoo-no-Mikoto, the main deity of Yasaka Shrine, was so impressed by the hospitality of Sominoshorai that he promised to protect her from plague as a descendant of Sominoshorai if she wore a thatch ring around her waist. The thatch ring, which became a landmark, was made by wrapping a bundle of thatch around it, hence the name "thatch roll," which in turn became known as "chimaki," which means "cake wrapped in bamboo leaves. The bundle of chimaki is accompanied by a talisman inscribed with the words, "Su-Min-Sho Rai Descendants.

<Trivia
In Kyoto, people hang hachimaki at the entrance of their houses to pray for good health, and return them a year later to Yasaka Shrine or to the float from which they were given.

『祇園祭』で重要な役割を担う山鉾だが、一部の山鉾では一般の観光客も上がる（乗る）ことができる。前祭・後祭前の数日間、各山鉾の会所と呼ばれる建物の2Fから、鉾に繋がる渡り廊下を渡って山鉾に乗ることができる。動く美術館と言われるほど豪華絢爛な懸装品に彩られた山鉾を間近で見られるのはこの期間のみ。山鉾の上から京都の街を見渡すのも特別な体験になるはず。

List of floats that can be boarded at the Gion Festival's pre-festival festivities.
Nagatohoko / Tsukihoko / Hakodani-hoko / Kikusui-hoko / Chicken float / Funafoko / Iwatoyama
*Purchase of Chimaki or goods or boarding pass is required to ride the Yamaboko.
Choto-boko is forbidden to women, so only men are allowed to board inside.

<Advice.
Since shoes are removed when climbing the yamahoko, choose shoes that are comfortable to wear.