The Gion Festival entered the Yoiyama period of the Sakimatsuri (first festival) on July 14, 2025. In the Shijo-dori area in the center of Kyoto City, the lights of the Komagata lanterns decorating the front and back of the Yamahoko floats and the sounds of Gion bayashi music created an atmospheric atmosphere, instantly raising the festival mood.
In stark contrast to the scorching heat of the previous day, thick clouds spread around from noon onwards. By around 6:30 pm, the light rain had stopped, and the Yamahoko floats, illuminated by the soft light of the lanterns, stood out in the evening darkness. As the humidity grew, foreign tourists and women in traditional Japanese clothing took to Muromachi-dori and Shinmachi-dori, where many Yamahoko floats were lined up, and enjoyed strolling around in their own way, listening to the Gion bayashi music of "Konchikichin" and looking up at the Yamahoko floats and taking commemorative photos.
According to the Kyoto Prefectural Police, as of 9 p.m. on that day, the number of people was about 15,000, down 14,000 from last year. On July 15 and 16, parts of Shijo-dori and Karasuma-dori will be turned into pedestrian zones between 6 p.m. and 11 p.m.
