| Gion festival | Times Square Reporter

Kita Kannon Yama – Honoring Kannon, the Goddess of Mercy in Japanese Buddhi...

The Kita Kannon Yama float in Kyoto’s Gion Festival pays tribute to Kannon, the revered Goddess of Mercy in Japanese Buddhism, also known as Avalokiteshvara. Th...

Kanko Boko: A Tale of Clever Escape at the Gion Festival

Discover the Kanko Boko, a Gion Festival float that tells an unusual story of cleverness and escape. Learn how this float's theme, based on a Chinese historical...

Suzuka Yama: The Goddess Who Conquered a Demon

Learn the legend of Suzuka Yama, a float in the Gion Festival that honors the goddess Suzuka Myōjin. Discover how this fierce warrior goddess, depicted on the f...

The Arare-Tenjin Yama: Gion's Resilient "Hail Thunder-God" Float

Uncover the unique story of the Arare-Tenjin Yama, one of the Gion Festival's most resilient and spiritually eclectic floats. This blog post explores its dedica...

Gion Festival Expert: Catherine Pawasarat’s Guide to Kyoto’s Gion Matsuri

Catherine Pawasarat, the foremost non-Japanese Gion Festival expert, offers rare insight into Kyoto’s world-famous Gion Matsuri. With decades of research, commu...

Ato Matsuri: Kyoto’s Intimate Latter Parade of Yamaboko Floats

The Ato Matsuri—the quieter second half of Kyoto’s Gion Festival (July 18–24)—features 11 graceful yamaboko floats that bid farewell to the deities. With commun...

Gion Festival History: Kyoto’s Storied Summer Matsuri

The Gion Matsuri in Kyoto began in 869 CE as a ritual to calm vengeful spirits amidst a deadly plague—evolving over centuries into the grand celebration of floa...

Saki Matsuri: Kyoto’s First Flourish of the Gion Festival in July

Saki Matsuri kicks off Gion Matsuri each mid-July in Kyoto, parading 23 stunning Yamaboko floats—yama and hoko—as towering symbols of artistry and history. Stre...

Community: The Heartbeat of Kyoto’s Gion Festival

The Gion Festival thrives through the collective spirit of its community—where multigenerational participation, traditional craftsmanship, and cultural heritage...

Kita Kannon Yama: Kyoto’s Quiet Guardian of Compassion at Gion Festival

Kita Kannon Yama feels more like a neighborhood gathering than a showpiece—it’s a hushed, traditional corner of Gion Matsuri that still welcomes local members t...

Hachiman Yama: The Warrior God’s Golden Shrine at Gion Festival

Hachiman Yama brings the protector god of warriors—Hachiman—into the Ato-Matsuri spotlight via a glowing gold-leaf shrine carried on the float. This divine symb...

Exploring the Gion Festival Art Collection: Masterpieces of Japanese Cultur...

Delve into the Gion Festival's rich art collection, featuring exquisite Japanese paintings, textiles, and crafts. Discover the intricate artistry of Kyoto's tra...

Experience Gion Matsuri – Kyoto’s Grand Festival of Floats & Rituals

Join one of Japan’s most iconic traditions in the heart of Kyoto. Gion Matsuri blends vibrant yamaboko float processions, centuries-old rituals, and deep cultur...

Koi Yama – Carp Warrior Float | Gion Festival Ato Matsuri

Koi Yama, the bold Carp Warrior Float of Gion Festival’s Ato Matsuri, depicts a carp striving up the waterfall toward dragonhood. Adorned with 16th-century Belg...

Ashikari Yama – A Heartfelt Tale in Kyoto’s Gion Festival

Ashikari Yama is a charming float from Kyoto’s Gion Festival, featured in the Saki Matsuri parade. It tells the heartfelt story of a man reunited with his wife...