Gion Festival in Kyoto

Gion Festival in Kyoto

A decorated float is pulled around for a "tsuji-mawashi" corner turn during the Gion Festival's Yamahoko Junko parade in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 24, 2026.

Gion Festival in Kyoto

Gion Festival in Kyoto

A decorated float is pulled around for a "tsuji-mawashi" corner turn during the Gion Festival's Yamahoko Junko parade in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 24, 2026.

Gion Festival in Kyoto

Gion Festival in Kyoto

A parade of decorated "yamahoko" floats is held during the Gion Festival in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 24, 2026.

Gion Festival in Kyoto

Gion Festival in Kyoto

A parade of decorated "yamahoko" floats is held during the Gion Festival in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 24, 2026.

Gion Festival in Kyoto

Gion Festival in Kyoto

A parade of decorated "yamahoko" floats is held during the Gion Festival in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 24, 2026.

Gion Festival in Kyoto

Gion Festival in Kyoto

A parade of decorated "yamahoko" floats is held during the Gion Festival in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 24, 2026.

Gion Festival in Kyoto

Gion Festival in Kyoto

People fill the streets as decorated floats adorned with illuminated lanterns are displayed during the annual Gion Festival's Yoiyama event in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 16, 2026, the eve of the Yamahoko Junko parade, the highlight of the month-long festival.

Gion Festival in Kyoto

Gion Festival in Kyoto

People fill the streets as decorated floats adorned with illuminated lanterns are displayed during the annual Gion Festival's Yoiyama event in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 16, 2026, the eve of the Yamahoko Junko parade, the highlight of the month-long festival.

Gion Festival in Kyoto

Gion Festival in Kyoto

People fill the streets as decorated floats adorned with illuminated lanterns are displayed during the annual Gion Festival's Yoiyama event in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 16, 2026, the eve of the Yamahoko Junko parade, the highlight of the month-long festival.

Gion Festival in Kyoto

Gion Festival in Kyoto

People fill the streets as decorated floats adorned with illuminated lanterns are displayed during the annual Gion Festival's Yoiyama event in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 16, 2026, the eve of the Yamahoko Junko parade, the highlight of the month-long festival.

Gion Festival in Kyoto

Gion Festival in Kyoto

People fill the streets as decorated floats adorned with illuminated lanterns are displayed during the annual Gion Festival's Yoiyama event in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 16, 2026, the eve of the Yamahoko Junko parade, the highlight of the month-long festival.

Gion Festival in Kyoto

Gion Festival in Kyoto

A decorated float is pulled around for a "tsuji-mawashi" corner turn during the Gion Festival's Yamahoko Junko parade in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 17, 2026.

Gion Festival in Kyoto

Gion Festival in Kyoto

A decorated float is pulled around for a "tsuji-mawashi" corner turn during the Gion Festival's Yamahoko Junko parade in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 17, 2026.

Gion Festival in Kyoto

Gion Festival in Kyoto

A decorated float is pulled around for a "tsuji-mawashi" corner turn during the Gion Festival's Yamahoko Junko parade in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 17, 2026.

Gion Festival in Kyoto

Gion Festival in Kyoto

A procession of decorated floats takes place down a street in Kyoto, western Japan, during the Gion Festival's Yamahoko Junko parade on July 17, 2026.

Gion Festival in Kyoto

Gion Festival in Kyoto

A procession of decorated floats takes place down a street in Kyoto, western Japan, during the Gion Festival's Yamahoko Junko parade on July 17, 2026.

Gion Festival in Kyoto

Gion Festival in Kyoto

Decorated "yamahoko" floats parade down a street during the annual Gion festival in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 24, 2025.

Gion Festival in Kyoto

Gion Festival in Kyoto

Decorated "yamahoko" floats parade down a street during the annual Gion festival in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 24, 2025.

Gion Festival in Kyoto

Gion Festival in Kyoto

Decorated "yamahoko" floats parade down a street during the annual Gion festival in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 24, 2025.

Gion Festival in Kyoto

Gion Festival in Kyoto

Decorated "yamahoko" floats parade down a street during the annual Gion festival in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 24, 2025.

Gion Festival in Kyoto

Gion Festival in Kyoto

Decorated "yamahoko" floats parade down a street during the annual Gion festival in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 24, 2025.

Gion Festival in Kyoto

Gion Festival in Kyoto

Decorated "yamahoko" floats parade down a street during the annual Gion festival in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 24, 2025.

"Yamahoko" parade in Kyoto's Gion Festival

KYOTO, Japan, July 17 Kyodo - A parade of decorated "yamahoko" floats takes place on a street during the Gion Festival in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 17, 2025. The parade of 23 floats is inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list. (Kyodo)

"Yamahoko" parade in Kyoto's Gion Festival

"Yamahoko" parade in Kyoto's Gion Festival

A parade of decorated "yamahoko" floats takes place on a street during the Gion Festival in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 17, 2025. The parade of 23 floats is inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list.

"Yamahoko" parade in Kyoto's Gion Festival

"Yamahoko" parade in Kyoto's Gion Festival

A decorated "yamahoko" float is pulled around for a "tsuji-mawashi" corner turn during a parade of 23 floats, a highlight of the Gion Festival in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 17, 2025. The parade is inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list.

"Yamahoko" parade in Kyoto's Gion Festival

"Yamahoko" parade in Kyoto's Gion Festival

A parade of decorated "yamahoko" floats takes place on a street during the Gion Festival in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 17, 2025. The parade of 23 floats is inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list.

"Yamahoko" parade in Kyoto's Gion Festival

"Yamahoko" parade in Kyoto's Gion Festival

Decorated "yamahoko" floats parade down a street during the Gion Festival in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 17, 2025. The parade of 23 floats is inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list.

"Yamahoko" parade in Kyoto's Gion Festival

"Yamahoko" parade in Kyoto's Gion Festival

A parade of decorated "yamahoko" floats takes place on a street during the Gion Festival in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 17, 2025. The parade of 23 floats is inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list.

Yamahoko parade at Kyoto's Gion Festival

KYOTO, Japan, July 24 Kyodo - Participants pull a decorated float through a street during the Yamahoko parade, a highlight of the traditional Gion Festival in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 24, 2024. (Kyodo)

"Yamahoko" parade in Kyoto's Gion Festival

KYOTO, Japan, July 17 Kyodo - A decorated "yamahoko" float is pulled around a corner during the Gion Festival in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 17, 2024. The parade of 23 floats is inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list. (Kyodo)

Yamahoko parade at Kyoto's Gion Festival

Yamahoko parade at Kyoto's Gion Festival

A decorated float is pictured turning a corner during the Yamahoko parade, a highlight of the traditional Gion Festival in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 24, 2024.

Yamahoko parade at Kyoto's Gion Festival

Yamahoko parade at Kyoto's Gion Festival

Participants pull a decorated float through a street during the Yamahoko parade, a highlight of the traditional Gion Festival in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 24, 2024.

Yamahoko parade at Kyoto's Gion Festival

Yamahoko parade at Kyoto's Gion Festival

Participants pull a decorated float through a street during the Yamahoko parade, a highlight of the traditional Gion Festival in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 24, 2024.

Yamahoko parade at Kyoto's Gion Festival

Yamahoko parade at Kyoto's Gion Festival

Participants pull a decorated float through a street during the Yamahoko parade, a highlight of the traditional Gion Festival in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 24, 2024.

"Yamahoko" parade in Kyoto's Gion Festival

"Yamahoko" parade in Kyoto's Gion Festival

Decorated "yamahoko" floats parade down a street during the Gion Festival in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 17, 2024. The parade of 23 floats is inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list.

"Yamahoko" parade in Kyoto's Gion Festival

"Yamahoko" parade in Kyoto's Gion Festival

Decorated "yamahoko" floats parade down a street during the Gion Festival in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 17, 2024. The parade of 23 floats is inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list.

"Yamahoko" parade in Kyoto's Gion Festival

"Yamahoko" parade in Kyoto's Gion Festival

A decorated "yamahoko" float is pulled around a corner during the Gion Festival in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 17, 2024. The parade of 23 floats is inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list.

"Yamahoko" parade in Kyoto's Gion Festival

"Yamahoko" parade in Kyoto's Gion Festival

A decorated "yamahoko" float is pulled around a corner during the Gion Festival in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 17, 2024. The parade of 23 floats is inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list.

"Yamahoko" parade in Kyoto's Gion Festival

"Yamahoko" parade in Kyoto's Gion Festival

Decorated "yamahoko" floats parade down a street during the Gion Festival in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 17, 2024. The parade of 23 floats is inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list.

Yamahoko parade at Kyoto's Gion Festival

Yamahoko parade at Kyoto's Gion Festival

Spectators hold up cameras and smartphones as a richly decorated float does a "tsuji-mawashi" corner turn during the Yamahoko parade, a highlight of the traditional Gion Festival in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 24, 2023.

Yamahoko parade at Kyoto's Gion Festival

Yamahoko parade at Kyoto's Gion Festival

Spectators hold up cameras and smartphones as a richly decorated float does a "tsuji-mawashi" corner turn during the Yamahoko parade, a highlight of the traditional Gion Festival in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 24, 2023.

Yamahoko parade at Kyoto's Gion Festival

Yamahoko parade at Kyoto's Gion Festival

Participants pull a decorated float through a street during the Yamahoko parade, a highlight of the traditional Gion Festival in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 24, 2023.

Yamahoko parade at Kyoto's Gion Festival

Yamahoko parade at Kyoto's Gion Festival

Decorated floats are paraded on a street during the Yamahoko Junko procession, a highlight of the traditional Gion Festival in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 24, 2023.

Yamahoko parade at Kyoto's Gion Festival

Yamahoko parade at Kyoto's Gion Festival

Decorated floats are paraded on a street during the Yamahoko Junko procession, a highlight of the traditional Gion Festival in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 24, 2023.

Yamahoko parade at Kyoto's Gion Festival

Yamahoko parade at Kyoto's Gion Festival

A richly decorated float is pictured turning a corner during the Yamahoko parade, a highlight of the traditional Gion Festival in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 24, 2023.

"Yamahoko" parade at Gion Festival in Kyoto

"Yamahoko" parade at Gion Festival in Kyoto

A procession of decorated "yamahoko" floats parade during the traditional Gion Festival in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 17, 2023.

"Yamahoko" parade at Gion Festival in Kyoto

"Yamahoko" parade at Gion Festival in Kyoto

A procession of decorated "yamahoko" floats parade during the traditional Gion Festival in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 17, 2023.

Floats pulled before Yamahoko parade

Floats pulled before Yamahoko parade

KYOTO, Japan - People conduct a test pull of floats in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 12, 2014, before the Yamahoko parade. The parade is a highlight of the Gion Festival in Kyoto.

Floats pulled before Yamahoko parade

Floats pulled before Yamahoko parade

KYOTO, Japan - Tourists and others engage in a test pull of a float in Kyoto, western Japan, on July 12, 2014, ahead of the Yamahoko parade. The parade is a highlight of the Gion Festival in Kyoto.

Gion Festival begins in Kyoto

Gion Festival begins in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan - Masato Hirai (front) takes part in the "Osendo no Gi" ritual to pray for the safety and success of Gion Matsuri (Gion Festival) at Yasaka Shrine in Kyoto City on July 1, 2014, as the month-long summer festival opened the same day. Hirai was selected as "Chigo," the poster boy who rides on the leading "Naginatahoko" float during the "Yamahoko Jungyo" parade in the festival.