Tracing its roots back to 869 CE, the Gion Festival (or Gion Matsuri) in Kyoto began as a ritual to appease angry spirits during a major plague outbreak. Over centuries it evolved—through additions of the yamaboko floats, neighborhood rivalries, religious worship at Yasaka Shrine, and cultural influences—to become one of Japan’s most iconic and enduring festivals, celebrated every July as both a purification of the city and a vibrant display of history, artistry, and community.
Gion Matsuri History – Origins & Evolution of Kyoto’s Grand Festival
Tracing its roots back to 869 CE, the Gion Festival (or Gion Matsuri) in Kyoto began as a ritual to appease angry spirits during a major plague outbreak. Over centuries it evolved—through additions of the yamaboko floats, neighborhood rivalries, religious worship at Yasaka Shrine, and cultural influences—to become one of Japan’s most iconic and enduring festivals, celebrated every July as both a purification of the city and a vibrant display of history, artistry, and community.visit: https://www.gionfestival.org/gion-festival-history/
