The biggest highlight of the Gion Festival in Kyoto, the "Yamahoko Cruise" of the previous festival (Sakimatsuri) is held for the first time in three years, and luxuriously decorated mountains and yellowtails are advancing along the metropolitan road.
The Gion Festival is said to have started in the Heian period to pray for the extinction of the plague, and the Yamahoko cruise was canceled for the second consecutive year due to the influence of the new corona, and it was the first time in three years.
The pre-festival Yamahoko cruise started at 9 am, and at Shijo-dori in the center of Kyoto city, a child riding a long sword sword at the beginning cut off a rope that is said to indicate a barrier to the sacred area.
After the long sword halberd, "Meng Zong Mountain", which attracted the first mountain, continues, and a total of 23 mountains and halberds are advancing along the summer metropolitan road, hoping for the extinction of the plague.
At the intersection, "Tsuji-maki" was performed, in which the wheels were slid on the watered bamboo to turn at a right angle, and people along the road applauded.
A man in his 40s who visited from Osaka said, "I'm glad I saw a festival like Kyoto. Everyone was looking forward to the festival for the first time in three years."
As the infection of the new corona spreads again, the Gion Matsuri Float Association asked the participants of the cruise to vaccinate and measure the temperature on the day, and after taking basic infection control measures for the visitors. , We are calling for you to keep a distance from each other and appreciate it.