Minamikannon Yama Abare-kannon of Gion Matsuri

The information of Minamikannon Yama Abare-kannon is presented here. Minamikannon Yama Abare-kannon is held every year on July 23rd. Minamikannon Yama Abare-kannon is held immediately after Hiyori-Kagura, which is held to pray for good weather and for the safety of Latter Festival Yamahoko-Junko (Float Procession, Yamaboko Parade). In Minamikannon Yama Abare-kannon, the statue of Yoryu Kannon is covered with cloth and attached to a lotus stand (okoshi) with cloth and paraded around the town three times while being shaken vigorously.

• Minamikannon Yama Abare-kannon 2024 Schedule
• Minamikannon Yama Abare-kannon map ＆ access
• Minamikannon Yama Abare-kannon brief overview

【Minamikannon Yama Abare-kannon 2024 Schedule (confirmation required)】

Minamikannon Yama Abare-kannon 2024 will be held on Friday, July 23rd, 2024 at around 23:00.
●Gion Matsuri Festival 2024 will start on July 1st, 2024 and end on July 31st, 2024.
Gion Matsuri Festival Schedule (July 1st-31st)

【Minamikannon Yama Location Map ＆ Directions】

Address: Mukadeya-machi, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan
Access (How to get there): Subway Shijo Station (about 7 minutes on foot), Hankyu Karasuma Station (about 6 minutes on foot)

【Minamikannon Yama Abare-kannon of Gion Matsuri brief overview】

Minamikannon Yama Abare-kannon (南観音山あばれ観音) of Gion Matsuri Festival (祇園祭) is held every year on July 23rd. Minamikannon Yama Abare-kannon is held immediately after Hiyori-Kagura, which is held to pray for good weather and for the safety of Latter Festival Yamahoko-Junko (Float Procession, Yamaboko Parade). By the way, in Hiyori-Kagura, hayashi-kata (music group) of Minamikannon Yama go to Yasaka Shrine Otabisho while playing Gion-bayashi (Gion Matsuri music), and dedicate Gion-bayashi (Gion Matsuri music) at Yasaka Shrine Otabisho. In Minamikannon Yama Abare-kannon, the statue of Yoryu Kannon is covered with cloth and attached to a lotus stand (okoshi) with cloth and paraded around the town three times while being shaken vigorously.

★It is not clear when or why Minamikannon Yama Abare-kannon began. However, it is said that Yoryu Kannon was made to go on a rampage beforehand in order to settle quietly in Minamikannon Yama during Latter Festival Yamahoko-Junko (Float Procession, Yamaboko Parade). It is said that Yoryu Kannon of Minamikannon Yama is a woman, and that Yoryu Kannon of Kitakannon Yama is a man, and that she was made to go on a rampage in order to cool her love for him. Minamikannon Yama Abare-kannon is an event of Gion Matsuri Festival that takes place only on Minamikannon Yama.
★According to an old document owned by the town, Kitakannon Yama was founded in 1353. Kitakannon Yama is derived from the fact that the statues of Yoryu Kannon and Idaten are enshrined on Kitakannon Yama. Around the time of the Onin War (1467-1477), Kitakannon Yama began to parade alternately with the neighboring town of Minamikannon Yama. Since the Meiji period (1868-1912), Kitakannon Yama began to parade together with Minamikannon Yama every year.
★The origin of Minamikannon Yama is not clear. In the “Gionshaki (Records of Yasaka Shrine)”, which describes the names of Yamahoko floats and places in the middle of the Muromachi period (1336-1573) before the Onin War (1467-1477), it is written as “Fudaraku Yama (between Nishikikoji-cho and Shijo Bomon)”, and Minamikannon Yama is said to have already been founded before the Onin War. Minamikannon Yama is derived from the fact that the statue of Yoryu Kannon and Zenzai Doji are enshrined on Minamikannon Yama. The statue of Yoryu Kannon is said to have been created by Eshin-sozu and Genshin, but it was destroyed by Tenmei-no-taika (the great fire of Tenmei) in 1788, except for the head, and was later restored. Around the time of the Onin War (1467-1477), Minamikannon Yama began to parade alternately with the neighboring town of Kitakannon Yama. Since the Meiji period (1868-1912), Kitakannon Yama began to parade together with Minamikannon Yama every year. Minamikannon Yama was changed from Kakiyama float to Hikiyama float. In addition, Minamikannon Yama was once also known as “Kudari Kannon Yama”.

【Minamikannon Yama Abare-kannon of Gion Matsuri remarks】
*Events may be rescheduled or cancelled. Also, the content of the event may have changed.
祇園祭2025日程一覧（宵山屋台・山鉾巡行・・・）