Gion Matsuri Yamaboko Parade 2012

Shibuya246 · 17 July 2012 · 28 photos

One of the big hoko floats rolling past.

Back in 2012 I wrote that I would put up a complete set of my Gion Matsuri photos later on. Here it is, fourteen years late: the Yamaboko Junko parade on 17 July 2012, when the festival floats are pulled through central Kyoto.

There are two kinds of float. The hoko are the huge ones, several storeys high with musicians riding inside, and the yama are smaller and lighter.

Musicians in blue and white sitting inside a float — Musicians ride inside the float, playing the festival music.

A smaller float seen through trees — A smaller yama float.

A wooden float with tapestries in front of an office building — Floats of all sizes take part.

Men in straw hats and white robes walking in the parade — Men in straw hats walking with the floats.

A praying mantis model on top of a float — The praying mantis on top of Toro-yama.

A float with a large hanging tapestry — Tapestries hang on the sides of the floats.

Men in blue kimono walking with a banner — Each float has its own group walking in front.

A tall red float with people inside — The hoko floats are several storeys tall.

A tall pole rising from the top of a float — A tall pole rises from the top of the hoko.

A float with a figure under a red umbrella — A yama float with a figure under a red umbrella.

Close up of the figure and umbrella on a float — A closer look.

A float with men standing on its roof — Men ride on the roof of the float.

A man sitting on the roof of a float — One of the men on the roof.

A float on a wide street lined with crowds — Crowds line the wide streets for the parade.

A float with large wooden wheels and pullers in front — Pullers on the ropes in front of the hoko.

Two men waving fans at the front of a float — Two men at the front lead the pullers with their fans.

Men standing on top of a float under a red cover — Up on the roof again.

A tall float far down a street between buildings — Looking down the street at the next hoko.

A float with a hanging tapestry and men in blue — Another hanging tapestry.

A float topped with green pine branches — Pine branches on top of one of the yama.

A group in red hats and white jackets walking — A group in red hats.

The backs of jackets printed with 鶏 — The 鶏 (rooster) on their jackets is for the Niwatori Hoko.

A float full of musicians in blue — Another hoko full of musicians.

A huge wooden wheel with a man walking beside it — The wooden wheels are taller than the people walking beside them.

The wheels of a float from behind — The wheels from behind.

A float heading down a street lined with spectators — Heading down the parade route.

A yama float with its team around it — A yama float with its team.

It was a very hot morning and the crowds were deep along the whole route, but watching the giant floats roll past between the office buildings is something you don't forget.

I took these photos in July 2012 and only got round to posting them in 2026.

Visiting today · Kyoto, Kansai

Visiting Gion Matsuri, Kyoto today

Checked October 2026 · next check January 2027

Added by Shibuya246, separate from the original post above. Facts are checked every quarter against the sources below. Check opening times and prices before you go.

What it is: Yasaka Shrine's month-long July festival. The highlight is the Yamaboko Junko, when giant wooden floats are pulled through central Kyoto.
When: In 2026 the Saki Matsuri parade was 17 July (from Shijo Karasuma at 9:00) and the Ato Matsuri parade 24 July (from Karasuma Oike at 9:30). 2027 times are not yet announced; the dates stay fixed.
Where: Saki parade: Shijo-dori east to Kawaramachi, north to Oike, then west to Shinmachi. Ato parade runs the reverse direction. Nearest stations: Shijo (subway) and Karasuma (Hankyu).
Watching: Free from the pavement. Paid seats on the route were ¥8,000 front row and ¥6,000 other rows in 2026. The parade goes ahead in rain; umbrellas that block views are not allowed in seats.
Tip: Arrive by 8:00 for a kerbside spot near Shijo Kawaramachi, where floats make the tsuji-mawashi 90-degree turn. Expect heat; bring water and a hat.

Best time