Visiting Yasaka Shrine, Kiyomizudera Temple, Fushimi Inari Shrine, Nijo Castle, Kinkakuji Golden Pavilion, Gingakuji Temple, Enryakuji Temple, Bamboo Grove in Arashiyama, Kyoto Station, and Gion Geisha District. Gion Festival is a big tourist attraction. The Gion Festival is one of the largest and most famous festivals in Japan, taking place annually during the month of July in Kyoto. Many events take place in central Kyoto and at the Yasaka Shrine, the festival's patron shrine, located in Kyoto's famous Gion district, which gives the festival its name. Japan is an international tourist destination with a lot of tourist attractions like Tokyo Disneyland, Osaka Castle, Akihabara, Asakusa, and Fushimi Inari Shrine. Today, I will show you the Gion Matsuri Festival in Kyoto. It dates back to the mid-800s, making it one of the oldest festivals in Japan. It is also Japan's most famous and popular religious event. It is coming. On July 17th, dozens of gigantic and beautiful floats go around central Kyoto for religious purposes. They have been doing this in summer ever since 869 CE. This float is Naginata-Hoko. One of the wealthiest neighborhoods in Central Kyoto organizes it. The area is located on Shijo Street near Daimaru Department Store, meaning it has been one of the most successful business districts for hundreds of years now. People in the area practiced playing the festival music a month before today to keep up the sense of community. Look at the sides of the float. They are precious antique tapestries of Iran and Europe from the 16th 17th and 18th centuries. At that time, Japan isolated itself from the rest of the world and only a limited volume of international trade was allowed. Only a small number of super-rich merchants could afford them in Japan, and they were one of the few exceptionally wealthy merchants. They are of course handmade, meaning it takes years to finish those elaborate artworks. The Japanese or local governments subsidize this festival. People in the communities have voluntarily been supporting this historical event for over 1000 years. I appreciate them for keeping up the traditions and relationships in their communities. That is Maiko, who is the young apprentice of Geisha. She is called up to this special event because Maiko is considered part of Kyoto's traditional culture. This is the Taishi-Yama float from the Taishi-Yama-Cho district. Most communities are only one-block-small areas. This is a small float. They might not be as wealthy as other communities, but they have come together to keep up the tradition. Look at that. Two apprentices of Maiko and one Geisha are up there. In fact, there is no Geisha in Kyoto. Geisha has been called Geiko in this ancient capital of Japan for hundreds of years. A Maiko becomes a Geiko when she is 20 years old, meaning young people who enter the Geisha world spend about 4 years as Maiko. There are some foreigners pulling the float. Each float calls young people living in Kyoto to join the event. Contrary to what most people think, Kyoto is an exceptionally young city, 10 percent of the population is students. Three floats in a row. I have never seen float congestion. Every community sells Chimaki charms to help finance the event. Many houses in Kyoto put them on the entrance to ward off evil spirits. This is Tsuki-Hoko or Moon Float. They put the moon high up in the air. People on the roof are a professional group of float-building carpenters. Their job is to make sure the float does not hit the electric poles by pushing or kicking them. The float is 26 meters high, making it the tallest one in the Gion Festival. This is a motion to start off the gigantic float. This community is near the Karasuma Station, meaning there are some successful businesses in the area. People call Gion festival floats, Marching Museums. Tsuki-Hoko has precious tapestries and carpets. They have one drawn by Maruyama Okyo, one of the greatest painters in Japan. The sculpture is so detailed. Maiko is there. The lady in the middle is from a Geisha house in the Miyagawa-Cho Geisha district. The fan says that. Kyoto has five Geisha districts and Miyagawa-Cho is the second largest after Gion-Kobu. Hakurakuten-Yama float from Hakurakuten-Cho district. Each float has a theme. Mostly, they are stories from ancient China. In Medieval Japan, people considered Chinese literature superior to Japanese one. This tapestry dates back to the 1600s in France. Money can not buy it. It is supposed to have gone to a history museum. We came to Shijo Street to see the biggest attraction of the Gion Festival. They are going to make a 90-degree turn to return to their district. They put bamboo on the ground and water it. People call it Tsuji-Mawashi or Intersection Turn. Turning a 10 tons heavy float in that way is a lot of work. They slide the front wheel little by little, exactly the same way as they did 500 years ago. To join the group riding the Naginata float, they have to be wealthy business owners. The Gion Festival is basically an event for merchants and townspeople. Not everyone can join it, unlike many traditional festivals. Yes, they made it. People in the dark blue jackets are Kurumakata, a professional group to take care of the wheels. Without them, the float could not go straight 5 meters. They need to adjust the course all the time. It is a great honor to be the two navigators of the Naginata float. Everyone watches this float more than any other. They are in newspapers, on TV, and YouTube. She is a first-year Maiko. Because she wears lipstick only on the lower lip. Kyoto's Geisha districts have so many mysterious practices and traditions since the Samurai Period. Toro-Yama float. Look at the mantis. It lost the left arm. The theme is about a warrior who fought like a praying mantis with his strong hatchets. The community honored the hero who died in a battle who was from the district. Kisusui-Hoko float is coming. It is the only tall float that has a child doll. Gion Festival is a lot of work for everyone. It is 33 degrees Celsius now. They are pulling this gigantic thing for three hours. Nobody lost away. It is only 10 minutes to get back to their district. This community did not join the Gion Festival for nearly 100 years after losing its float in a devasting fire accident caused by the civil war of the 1800s. She is also from Miyagawa-Cho Geisha District, which is a lot quieter than Gion-Kobu in Hamami Koji Street. Maiko sets up her own hair, whereas Geiko wears a wig. The float made a Tsuji-Mawashi turn and now goes down this street. Honestly speaking, the Gion Festival is already over. It starts from the Shijo and Kawaramachi intersection towards the east. It goes up north on Kawaramachi Street and then turns left to reach the Okie and Karasuma intersection which is the endpoint. Those floats are going down Sinmachi Street to come back to their districts. But, I think this street is actually the highlight of the festival. The floats go through this alley-like street where we can find some Machiya old townhouses. Most people here are locals. They know how and where they should enjoy this festival. No TV channels cover this street, so we are watching rare scenes. You could not see it this close on the main Shijo and Kawaramachi Streets. Iwato-Yama float has many gorgeous tapestries. This is Shinmachi Street. It was one of Kyoto's wealthiest streets along with Muromachi Street which goes down next to it. In Medieval Japan, hundreds of high-end kimono shops lined up the street. Some of them are still around. I can feel Kyoto's tradition here. The music is the same as several hundreds of years ago. Passing down the traditions to the next generation is important for Kyoto locals. I do not believe this. They have been doing it for centuries. I do not believe it. They are wearing Maiko's special makeup and smiling. It is 33 degrees hot. They must be super resilient physically and mentally. This float looks different. Fune-Hoko is a boat-shaped float that honors Empress Jimgu, who went across the sea to fight a battle abroad. Look at the rudder. It is so beautiful. Maiko looks different from Geiko. She wears a super long Obi belt and Maiko hairstyle. Ayagasa-Hoko is considered an old style of float that dates back to the 900s. Only umbrellas. The gigantic floats that we have seen today are said to have appeared in the 1500s when Japanese commerce developed a lot. Too bad. Tori-Hoko did not make it this year. One of the wheels cracked and it is coming back with no one onboard. This is the last float today. Hoka-Hoko's district is just 5 minutes down on this street. That gorgeous carpet was made in Kyoto 200 years ago. Yes, they make it. Thanks for watching and I will see you in the next video. International flight to Japan is not easy, but traveling in Japan is easy when riding Bullet trains.
Booking a hotel online in Japan is easy when making a reservation at booking.com or agoda.com or Airbnb. Traveling in Japan with airliners like JAL, ANA, and Jetstar is not a good option. Bullet Train is the best transportation between Japanese major cities like Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, and Hiroshima.
2025-01-15 02:09