The Gion Festival is one of the three major festivals in Japan. It is a festival of Yasaka Shrine, and the festival is held for about a month from July 1st to the end of July 31st.
The Mae-matsuri Yamaboko Junko, a procession of 23 floats, will depart from Shijo-Karasuma on Monday, July 17, 2023, with Hashibenkei float in the lead, and the Goto-matsuri Yamaboko Junko, a procession of 11 floats, will depart from Karasuma-Oike on Monday, July 24, 2023, with Hashibenkei float in the lead. In each Yoiyama, the streets of Kyoto will be filled with the sounds of Gion music as the floats are lit with Komagata lanterns.