During these three special days: the entryways to some of Kyoto’s most prized – and private – traditional homes in its old kimono district are flung open to the public, giving a rare glimpse into ...

A close-up look at one of Japan's largest and most popular festivals, the Gion Matsuri. Experience a 1000 year old three-night-long event filled with traditional Japanese cuisine, music, folklore and ...

Gion Matsuri (also called Gion San) began in 869 as a ritual to appease the god of plague. Over the years, it has evolved into a carnival with traditional rituals as its core. A grand parade of ...

Here's the third and the last part of our coverage on the grand parade "Yamaboko Junko" of Kyoto's Gion Matsuri. Following the first and second part, this post will cover from Houka-hoko to ...

In July, Kyoto celebrates the historic Gion Matsuri festival, one of Japan’s most famous and long-running traditions. With origins dating back to 869, the event draws more than one million people each ...

A towering float – complete with a wooden pole that easily rises six storeys – heaves into view. The float is elaborately decorated with tapestries festooned with gold, and has jet-black wheels taller ...

Kyoto's summer festival Gion Matsuri spans the entire month of July and is crowned by the Yamaboko Junko parade on July 17. The night before the parade, called "Yoiyama", is also one of the highlights ...

With a history that's over 1,000 years old, Kyoto Gion Matsuri is one of Japan’s biggest and most important festivals. First held in 869 as a way to fight an epidemic that was spreading across Japan ...