Festival · Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto
Gion Matsuri
祇園祭
Kyoto's month-long July festival, run by Yasaka Shrine for more than a thousand years. Its high point is the parade of 34 towering wooden floats through the city centre on 17 and 24 July.
When
1–31 July every year
- 2027 dates
- 1 – 31 Jul 2027
- Main days
- Sat, 17 Jul 2027, Sat, 24 Jul 2027
- Cost
- Free to watch; paid grandstand seats on Oike-dori
- Crowds
- Very heavy on the yoiyama evenings and parade mornings
- Time needed
- Parades from 9:00 (17 July) and 9:30 (24 July)
- Nearest station
- Shijo (subway) or Karasuma (Hankyu)
In short
- The two parades are on fixed dates: 17 July (23 floats) and 24 July (11 floats), whatever day of the week they fall on.
- For the famous 90-degree corner turns, stand at Kawaramachi-Shijo or Kawaramachi-Oike, and get there well before the floats.
- The yoiyama evenings before each parade (14–16 and 21–23 July) are the most fun part for many visitors: lanterns, music and food stalls on streets closed to cars.
- Kyoto in July is often above 35°C and humid. Carry water, a hat and a towel, and rest in the shade between floats.
- Book your hotel months ahead. Rooms in central Kyoto sell out for the parade nights.
What happens when
| Date | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 1 July | Opening rites start the month of ceremonies | Yasaka Shrine and float districts |
| 10–14 July | Floats for the first parade are built by hand, without nails | Streets around Shijo-Karasuma |
| 14–16 July | Yoiyama evenings: lit floats, music, food stalls | Shijo-dori and side streets |
| 17 July | Saki-matsuri parade of 23 floats from 9:00; portable shrines from about 18:00 | Shijo-dori, Kawaramachi-dori, Oike-dori |
| 18–21 July | Floats for the second parade are built | Float districts |
| 21–23 July | Second set of yoiyama evenings | Float districts |
| 24 July | Ato-matsuri parade of 11 floats from 9:30 | Starts at Karasuma-Oike |
| 31 July | Closing rite of the festival | Ekijinja, inside Yasaka Shrine |
What the Gion Matsuri is
The festival belongs to Yasaka Shrine in the Gion district and began as a rite to drive away plague. Today it fills the whole of July with rituals, but most visitors come for the yamaboko, the 34 floats that local neighbourhoods have kept and rebuilt for centuries.
The largest floats, the hoko, are several storeys tall, weigh many tonnes and carry musicians playing flutes, drums and bells. They are hung with old tapestries, some woven in Europe and Asia centuries ago, which is why people call them moving museums. The floats are part of a UNESCO intangible heritage listing.
Watching the parade
On 17 July the first floats leave Shijo-Karasuma at 9:00, reach Kawaramachi-Shijo at about 9:35, turn north to Kawaramachi-Oike at about 10:20 and pass Shinmachi-Oike at about 11:20. The 24 July parade starts at Karasuma-Oike at 9:30 and runs the route the other way.
The best moments are the tsujimawashi, when teams turn the huge wheeled hoko through 90 degrees on wet bamboo strips at each corner. Oike-dori is wider and has paid seats if you want a guaranteed view in the shade of the plane trees.
Yoiyama evenings
On the three evenings before each parade the floats stand lit in the streets, the musicians play the slow Gion-bayashi tunes, and Shijo-dori and Karasuma-dori are closed to traffic and filled with food stalls. Some float houses let visitors climb aboard for a small fee, and many sell protective charms.
The crowds are dense, especially on the evening of 16 July. Eating while walking is discouraged in the busiest lanes, so step aside to eat. A light cotton yukata is the usual dress, and it is fine for visitors to wear one too.
Where it happens
Questions
When is the Gion Matsuri parade?
There are two: the Saki-matsuri on 17 July from 9:00 and the Ato-matsuri on 24 July from 9:30. The dates are the same every year.
Is the Gion Matsuri free?
Yes, watching from the street is free. Paid grandstand seats are sold for the parade on Oike-dori, and some floats charge a small fee to climb aboard during yoiyama.
Which day is best if I can only go once?
Come on 16 July for the yoiyama evening and stay for the 17 July parade the next morning. That gives you the lit floats and the corner turns.
How hot is Kyoto during the festival?
Mid-July days are often above 35°C with high humidity. Drink often, wear a hat and plan indoor breaks around midday.
More festivals in July
Plan around it
Sources
We checked the facts on this page against these sources.
- Kyoto City Tourism Association京都市観光協会Kyoto City Tourism: Gion Matsuri (Japanese)(in Japanese) (opens in a new tab)
- Kyoto City Tourism Association京都市観光協会Kyoto City Tourism: parade route and viewing tips (Japanese)(in Japanese) (opens in a new tab)
- ich.unesco.orgUNESCO: Yama, Hoko, Yatai float festivals in Japan (opens in a new tab)
Facts checked 24 October 2026