Gion Matsuri 祇園祭
The Gion Festival (祇園祭, Gion Matsuri) is one of the largest and most famous festivals in Japan, taking place annually during the month of July in Kyoto. Many events take place in central Kyoto and at the Yasaka Shrine, the festival's patron shrine, located in Kyoto's famous Gion district, which gives the festival its name. It is formally a Shinto festival, and its original purposes were purification and pacification of disease-causing entities.
| Location | Kyoto (京都市 京都府) |
|---|---|
| When | July (Summer — exact dates change every year) |
| Type | Goryō-e |
| Official website | https://www.yasaka-jinja.or.jp/event/gion/ |
Planning to go? The Gion Matsuri is held in July, but the exact dates, times and any entry fees are set year by year. Check the official website for this year's schedule before you travel.
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Basic data from Wikidata (CC0). Description from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA), linked below. Details may change; the festival's official announcements are the authoritative source.