On July 23, 2026—the day before the *Yamaboko* float procession for the Gion Festival’s *Ato-matsuri* (Latter Festival)—about 30 *yamabushi* (mountain ascetics) from Shogoin Temple (Sakyo Ward, Kyoto)—the head temple of the Honzan Shugen sect—visited En-no-Gyoja Yama (located on Muromachi-dori Street, north of Sanjo, in Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto) to perform a *goma* fire ritual. White smoke billowed across Muromachi-dori Street as they prayed for the safety of the float procession and the warding off of epidemics.