Held on July 16th. Guided tours in English and Chinese available. Be amazed by the gorgeous floats! Learn about the history and culture of Kyoto's Gion Festival.
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The Gion Festival, one of the three major festivals in Japan, is a representative festival of Kyoto with a history of over 1,000 years. A variety of festivals are held over the course of a month, and the city of Kyoto is bustling with activity. In particular, many people visit the Yamahoko Junko and Yoiyama, and the city of Kyoto is filled with the excitement of the festival.
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Required time
Duration: Approximately 3 hours
Transportation
On foot
[July 16th only] Experience the Kyoto Gion Festival at least once! A guide will show you around the festival on this tour!
For more information and to apply for this tour, click here
1
Karasumaoike Station
Meet your English/Chinese speaking guide at Kyoto City Hall Station. During the Gion Festival, you can see gorgeously decorated floats as you walk through the city center. Each float has a meaning. Let's walk through the city together. It's okay if you don't know what a float is. Your Toyotomi guide will explain the Gion Festival as well as the history and culture of Kyoto.
2
Tsukihoko
We will guide you inside the "Tsukihoko," one of the Yamahoko floats. This Tsukihoko, which moves powerfully during the Yamahoko procession on July 17 every year, is the largest and heaviest of the 33 Yamahoko floats. You can climb it without waiting in line. From Tsukihoko, you can see the other floats on Shijo Street. Also, be sure to take a look at the decorations on the floats. The Gion Festival is also known as a "moving art museum," and the decorations and artworks on the floats are all historic.
3
Shijo Subway Station
After the Tsukihoko parade, the procession will disband near Shijo Subway Station.
*The main part of this tour is walking around the town with a guide and climbing up the Tsukihoko float. Please note that this tour does not include a ticket for the Yamahoko procession that will be held the next day.
*The main part of this tour is walking around the town with a guide and climbing up the Tsukihoko float. Please note that this tour does not include a ticket for the Yamahoko procession that will be held the next day.
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The Kintetsu Group is engaged in a wide range of businesses related to daily life, including transportation, real estate, international logistics, distribution, hotels, and leisure.
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