On July 17, 2025, the float parade for the Gion Festival, one of Japan's three major festivals, took place in the center of Kyoto City. It had been raining even before the parade began, and some floats had transparent plastic coverings on their hanging items and sacred dolls, or used black hanging items for rain. The 23 huge floats slowly made their way through Kyoto City to the sound of Gion music, captivating onlookers along the way.
Around 9 a.m., the leading Nagatohoko float departed from Shijo Karasuma in Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto City, heading east with the shout of "Enyaraya." At Shijo Fuyacho, a rope stretched across Shijo Street as a barrier between the area and the sacred area was cut in half by a young boy named Kubo Kento (8 years old). Following the Nagatohoko were this year's "Yamaichiban" Uradeyama and Araretenjinyama.
The "Kuji-arame" ceremony to confirm the order of the parade took place at Shijo Sakaimachi. The referees of each Yamahoko presented letter boxes containing lottery tickets with their unique mannerisms. At intersections such as Shijo Kawaramachi, the floats performed the "Tsuji-mawashi" ritual, in which they changed direction 90 degrees. Applause erupted from the roadside as the pullers worked in unison to pull the giant floats.
The Gion Festival is a festival held at Yasaka Shrine (Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City) to pray for the elimination of epidemics. On July 24th, there is a procession of the Ato Matsuri, with another 11 floats traveling the opposite route to the Saki Matsuri.
