Go to Kyoto in July for the Gion Festival

05/24/2010

July is the Hottest and the Most Exciting Month in Kyoto

The Japanese ancient city of Kyoto usually is filled with tranquility in the peaceful environment being surrounded by lots of temples and shrines. A large number of tourists come to Kyoto to touch this particular atmosphere and to feel the traditional Japanese heart. However, this tranquility will be broken by crowds of people and the explosion of energy in July because of the Gion Festival, which is one of the most famous and traditional festival in Japan. The origin of the festival was the year 869 where it began to wish the end of the plague which killed many people in that era. Once the plague ended Kyoto started celebrating every year since 970. Now the Gion Festival has more than 1,000 years of history and it's counted as one of the oldest festival in Japan.

The festival lasts the whole month of July from the opening ceremony at the beginning of July and finishing at the end of the month. There is a storyline throughout the entire festival, but the most indispensable event is the one which takes place at the middle of the month (usually from July 14 – 16th, but depends on each year's schedule) which is called “Yoiyama”. During Yoiyama, lots of colourful and uniquely designed “Hoko” (floats) are carried by many people from the centre of Kyoto in the morning who go around the city throughout the day. The Hoko weigh almost 12,000kg and can be up to 25 metres in height! You'll be astonished by the majestic and wild movements of these floats! It is said that 400,000 visitors come only during this Yoiyama period.

This is one of the best moments where you can feel the energy and the tradition in Kyoto. Do not miss this opportunity, there's no other time to be a witness of this wonderful event!

Book a hostel in Kyoto for July now and participate in the Gion Festival!

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