The “Yamahoko Procession,” the highlight of the Gion Festival, is an event in which 34 yamahoko parade through the city to ward off misfortune and pray for good health and safety. The magnificent yamaboko, adorned with beautiful embroidery and imported textiles, are known as “moving art museums” due to their stunning beauty. The “Yamaboko Procession of the Kyoto Gion Festival” has also been designated as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The order of the Yamahoko floats in the procession is determined by the “lot-drawing ceremony” held on July 2. This ceremony is said to have begun during the Muromachi period to avoid disputes over the procession order, and is now solemnly conducted in the council chamber of the [Kyoto City Hall] in the presence of the mayor. Certain yamahoko, such as the Naginata-boko, have had their order fixed since ancient times and therefore do not participate in the lottery; they are known as “kujitorazu” (those that do not draw lots).

The Yamahoko Procession takes place twice: on July 17 for the Saki-matsuri (Pre-Festival) and on July 24 for the Ato-matsuri (Post-Festival). This is timed to coincide with the Mikoshi Togyo (portable shrine procession), the central ritual of the Gion Festival; the procession held on the day of the Shin-ko-sai (Procession of the Shrine) is called the “Saki-matsuri,” while the one held on the day of the Kan-ko-sai (Return Procession) is called the “Ato-matsuri.” Since different yama-hoko participate in each procession, be sure to check in advance which ones you’re interested in.

Pre-Festival (July 17) / Naginata-boko, Hangoku-boko, Kikusui-boko, Tsuki-boko, Tori-boko, Hōka-boko, Iwato-yama, Fune-boko, Yamabushi-yama, Mōshō-yama, Taishi-yama, Kakkyō-yama, Hōshō-yama, Abura-Tenjin-yama, Shijō-Kasa-boko, Mantō-yama, Hakuya-yama, Kizō-yama, Arare Tenjin-yama, Bai Juyi-yama, Ashikari-yama, Urade-yama, Ayagasa-boko (23 floats in total)

Late Festival (July 24) / Kita-Kannon-yama, Minami-Kannon-yama, Hashibenkei-yama, En no Gyōja-yama, Koi-yama, Hachiman-yama, Suzuka-yama, Kuro-shu-yama, Jōmyō-yama, Ōfune-hoko, Taka-yama (11 floats in total)

The procession routes for the Maematsuri and Aтомatsuri are different. During the Maematsuri, starting at 9:00 a.m. and led by the Naginata-boko, the procession moves slowly along Shijo Street → Kawaramachi Street → Oike Street, heading toward Shinmachi Oike. During the Later Festival, starting at 9:30 a.m. on the 24th, the procession begins at the Karasuma-Oike intersection, led by the Hashibenkeiyama float, and follows a route opposite to that of the Earlier Festival.

While simply watching the yamahoko floats parade through the streets is a sight to behold, if you’re going to take the time to watch the procession, we recommend enjoying the highlights, such as the “Tsujimawashi,” “Shimenawa-kiri,” and “Kuji-kae.”

The “Tsuji-mawashi” is the highlight of the Yamahoko Procession, where the massive Yamahoko floats make a right-angle turn at an intersection. Water is sprinkled onto long split bamboo poles laid on the ground, and at the lead caller’s command, the pullers give a sudden, powerful tug to rotate the float. The dynamic “Tsuji-mawashi” maneuver of these yamaboko, which weigh over 10 metric tons, is a must-see if you attend the yamaboko parade. You can witness it at the “Shijo-Kawaramachi” and “Kawaramachi-Oike” intersections during both the Ma-matsuri and Ato-matsuri festivals.

One of the highlights of the Pre-Festival is the “Shimenawa-kiri” ceremony, in which a child riding the Naginata-boko—which leads the Pre-Festival procession—cuts the shimenawa (sacred rope) marking the boundary between the sacred and profane realms with a sword. This popular annual ritual takes place at Shijo Fuyacho.

The “Kuji-kae” is a ceremony to verify that the procession order of the Yamahoko floats matches the order determined by the “Kuji-tori-shiki” (lottery). The moment when the officials of each Yamahoko float present a box containing the lottery slips to the Mayor of Kyoto, who serves as the magistrate, is a must-see. The ceremony for the First Festival is held at “Shijo Fuyacho,” and for the Second Festival, at “in front of Kyoto City Hall.”

"Tsujimawashi," "Shimenawakiri," and "Kuji-kaeme" are the highlights of the parade, so there tends to be a large crowd of spectators. For those who prefer to watch from a spot with fewer crowds, we recommend waiting along Oike Street. Some Yamahoko floats put on performances during the procession, so be sure to come and enjoy the show.