Ahead of the Gion Festival's Yamahoko Parade (July 17th), the "test pull" of the assembled Yamahoko began in the center of Kyoto City on the afternoon of July 12th, 2024. To the chant of "Enyaraya," the giant wheels creaked as they moved down Shijo-dori after the rain.

Tourists and local residents test-pulled the rope (July 12, 2:15 p.m., Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto City)

At the Kanko-boko (Shijo-dori Muromachi Higashi-iru, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto City), officials in yukata robes participated in the ritual in the afternoon, soaked by the rain. When the rain stopped just before 2pm, the musicians, leader, roofers, and others got on the Hoko and the test pull began. A large number of citizens and tourists pulled the ropes and went back and forth between Muromachi-dori and Karasuma-dori.