Gion Matsuri

Gion Matsuri is Japan's most celebrated festival, a month-long July event in Kyoto honoring the Yasaka Shrine that has been held for over 1,100 years. Its highlight is the Yamahoko parade on July 17, when 33 elaborately decorated floats (some rising 25 meters) are pulled through the streets by teams of white-robed bearers in a spectacular display of traditional craftsmanship. The evenings of the preceding weeks (Yoiyama) draw hundreds of thousands to stroll the car-free streets in yukata.

• Categoryfestival
• Opening HoursMonday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM; Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM; Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM; Thursday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM; Friday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM; Saturday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM; Sunday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM