A couple weeks before the Tenjin Matsuri, Kansai’s other cultural and tourism hub, Kyoto,
plays host to its own signature event: the Gion Matsuri.
The vibe at each of these two festivals is perhaps indicative of the differences between these two wonderful cities. While Tenjin takes on a certain street party quality, the Gion Matsuri — fascinating and enticing to tourists foreign and Japanese alike due to its location in Kyoto’s famous geisha district — is a little more organized and regimented. The main focus of the event is the two street parades, held one week apart in mid-July. These processions and the floats that take part in them are so massive and require such levels of manpower, that the entire Gion district is typically closed to traffic for three days. This is a great night out filled with cultural experiences and quite possibly the best time of year to visit Kyoto!
Gion district, Kyoto. July 1-31, 2017, with the main parades on July 17 & 24.
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