The Gion Festival's pre-festival (sakimatsuri) took place on July 16, 2024. As the heat subsided in the evening, the komagata lanterns of the floats lit up the center of Kyoto City. Many people enjoyed strolling around while festival music played.

As Yoiyama approaches, Shijo Street is filled with lanterns and a crowd of people. Some people use umbrellas because it rains for a while (July 16th, 6:47pm, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto City)

Around 6 p.m., pedestrian-only streets (pedestrian precincts) opened on parts of Shijo-dori and Karasuma-dori. The maximum temperature in Kyoto City that day was 32.3 degrees, which was comfortable for summer, and local residents and tourists came out one after another. Many people visited the outdoor stalls and took pictures of the floats while enjoying eating and walking. It rained at one point, but the crowds did not die down.

Shijo Street filled with crowds (7:12 p.m. on July 16, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto City)

According to the Kyoto Prefectural Police, the number of people at the event was about 257,000 as of 9:30 p.m., 83,000 fewer than last year, when it was held on a Sunday.