Gion Matsuri 2026: Dates, Yoiyama & Float Parade Times (Complete Guide)
Gion Matsuri 2026 runs all July at Kyoto's Yasaka Shrine. Saki Matsuri yoiyama is July 14-16 and the float parade is July 17 at 9:00; Ato Matsuri yoiyama is July 21-23 and the parade is July 24 at 9:30. Verified dates, times and access.
When · Where
- When
- 2026/07/17 09:00 – 2026/07/24
- Where
- Yasaka Shrine & downtown Shijo-Karasuma, Kyoto（625 Gionmachi Kitagawa, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto (Yasaka Shrine)）
- Getting there
- Yasaka Shrine is ~5 min walk from Keihan Gion-shijo Station, ~8 min from Hankyu Kyoto-kawaramachi Station. For the parade and Yoiyama, use Karasuma subway 'Shijo' Station or Hankyu 'Karasuma' Station.
- Price
- Free
- Organizer
- Yasaka Shrine / Gion Matsuri Yamahoko Federation
Good to know for visitors
- Getting there
- Yasaka Shrine is ~5 min walk from Keihan Gion-shijo Station, ~8 min from Hankyu Kyoto-kawaramachi Station. For the parade and Yoiyama, use Karasuma subway 'Shijo' Station or Hankyu 'Karasuma' Station. Open directions in Google Maps ↗
- Booking & entry
- Free to attend — details on the official page (button above).
- Language
- Mostly in Japanese — a translation app on your phone helps.
Highlights
- Saki Matsuri float parade (Jul 17, 9:00 - 23 floats led by the Naginata-hoko)
- Lantern-lit Yoiyama evenings with Gion-bayashi music (Jul 14-16 & 21-23)
- The tsuji-mawashi float-turning at Shijo-Kawaramachi
Background & story
Traced to the Gion Goryo-e of 869, when 66 halberds (one per province) were raised at Shinsen-en and portable shrines from the Gion shrine of Gozu Tenno were sent to pray for an end to a plague.
Frequently asked questions
- When is Gion Matsuri 2026 and when are the float processions?
- Gion Matsuri runs the entire month of July 2026, but its two highlights are the Yamaboko Junko float processions. The Saki (former) procession is Friday, July 17 from 9:00 AM, starting at Shijo-Karasuma; the Ato (latter) procession is Friday, July 24 from 9:30 AM, starting at Karasuma-Oike. The eve-night Yoiyama celebrations run July 14-16 (saki) and July 21-23 (ato).
- Is Gion Matsuri free to watch?
- Yes. Watching the processions from the street and walking among the floats during Yoiyama is completely free; the only paid option is the reserved grandstand (and premium) seating along Oike-dori. During the former-festival Yoiyama (July 14-16), the 23 saki floats are displayed and illuminated around Shijo-Karasuma; the 11 latter-festival floats are shown during July 21-23, for 34 floats in total across the two parades, all free to view up close.
- How much are the paid grandstand seats and how do I book?
- As of July 2026, general reserved grandstand seats on Oike-dori cost 8,000 yen for the front row and 6,000 yen from the second row onward, with higher-priced 'learning' (guided) seats for July 24 and premium seats for July 17 also available. General sales opened June 1, 2026 at 10:00 AM JST via Ticket Pia online (credit card only) and Seven-Eleven stores. Around 10,000 seats are offered for July 17 and 4,000 for July 24.
- Where are the best free spots to see the floats?
- During the former-festival Yoiyama (July 14-16), head to the Shijo-Karasuma, Muromachi and Shinmachi neighborhoods, where the saki yamaboko floats are displayed and illuminated to walk around and view up close for free. A pedestrian-paradise zone with food stalls operates July 15-16, roughly 18:00-23:00 on Shijo-dori (between Yasaka Shrine and Horikawa).
- How do I get to the festival area?
- Shijo-Karasuma, the festival core, is served directly by the Karasuma subway line (Shijo Station) and the Hankyu Kyoto line (Karasuma Station). On busy eve-nights, entering and exiting via Karasuma-Oike Station to the north rather than Shijo Station can help you avoid the worst crowds, especially when heading back toward Kyoto Station.
- What should I wear and how do I cope with the heat?
- Mid-July in Kyoto is extremely hot and humid, with daytime highs frequently topping 35°C, so carry water, use a fan and shade, and take heatstroke precautions. Many visitors wear a yukata (light summer kimono) for the Yoiyama evenings, a popular and comfortable choice that fits the festival atmosphere.