Former Festival Yamahoko-hikizome of Gion Matsuri

The information of Former Festival Yamahoko-hikizome is presented here.
Former Festival Yamahoko-hikizome is held every year on July 12th. In Former Festival Yamahoko-hikizome, the newly assembled Yamahoko floats are pulled, just as in the actual Former Festival Yamahoko-Junko on July 17th. In Former Festival Yamahoko-hikizome on July 12th, Kanko Hoko, Niwatori Hoko, Tsuki Hoko, Kikusui Hoko, and Naginata Hoko are pulled.

• Former Festival Yamahoko-hikizome 2024 Schedule
• Former Festival Yamahoko-hikizome map ＆ access
• Former Festival Yamahoko-hikizome brief overview

【Former Festival Yamahoko-hikizome 2024 Schedule (confirmation required)】

Former Festival Yamahoko-hikizome 2024 will be held on Friday, July 12th, 2024. Kanko Hoko (Shinmachi-dori) will be pulled at 14:00, Niwatori Hoko (Muromachi-dori) at 14:30, Tsuki Hoko (Shinmachi-dori) and Kikusui Hoko (Muromachi-dori) at 15:00, and Naginata Hoko (Shinmachi-dori) at 15:30.
●Gion Matsuri Festival 2024 will start on July 1st, 2024 and end on July 31st, 2024.
Gion Matsuri Festival Schedule (July 1st-31st)

【Yamahoko Map (Former Festival) by Google Maps】

Yamaboko floats of Former Festival are Naginata Hoko, Yamabushi Yama, Hakurakuten Yama, Ashikari Yama, Kanko Hoko, Kakkyo Yama, Shijokasa Hoko, Tokusa Yama, Niwatori Hoko, Aburatenjin Yama, Moso Yama, Araretenjin Yama, Kikusui Hoko, Hosho Yama, Ayakasa Hoko, Taishi Yama, Tsuki Hoko, Hakuga Yama, Toro Yama, Urade Yama, Hoka Hoko, Iwato Yama and Fune Hoko

【Former Festival Yamahoko-hikizome of Gion Matsuri brief overview】

Former Festival Yamahoko-hikizome (山鉾曳き初め（前祭）) of Gion Matsuri Festival (祇園祭) is held every year on July 12th, before Former Festival Yamahoko-Junko (Float Procession, Yamaboko Parade) on July 17th. In Former Festival Yamahoko-hikizome on July 12th, Kanko Hoko (函谷鉾), Niwatori Hoko (鶏鉾), Tsuki Hoko (月鉾), Kikusui Hoko (菊水鉾), and Naginata Hoko (長刀鉾) are pulled. In Former Festival Yamahoko-hikizome, the newly assembled Yamahoko floats are pulled, just as in the actual Former Festival Yamahoko-Junko (Float Procession, Yamaboko Parade) on July 17th. In Naginata Hoko, Chigo-mai (Taihei-no-mai) is performed just like a real performance. Kanko Hoko, Tsuki Hoko and Naginata Hoko are pulled on Shijo-dori, and Niwatori Hoko and Kikusui Hoko are pulled on Muromachi-dori. In Former Festival Yamahoko-hikizome, you can not only see Yamahoko floats, but the public can also experience pulling them. (Confirmation is required.) If you are attending Former Festival Yamahoko-hikizome, you may be able to get a ticket to see Yamahoko floats. If you want to participate in the Former Festival Yamahoko-hikizome, it may be a good idea to line up at least an hour in advance, depending on the weather and day of the week.

★Kanko Hoko is derived from the historical record “Keimei Kutoku” in which Moshokun of the Sei Dynasty was able to safely escape the “Kankoku” barrier through the voice of a chicken during the Chinese Warring States Period (403 B.C.-221 B.C.). Kanko Hoko is about 24.17 meters high, 7.00 meters long, 3.95 meters wide, 11.39 tons in weight. (2008 Data)
★Niwatori Hoko is derived from the story of the “Renko”, in which the country was well governed, the litigation drum, called “Renko”, was no longer used, and moss grew and a chicken lived there during the Gyo period in China. Niwatori Hoko is about 23.88 meters high, 6.62 meters long, 3.70 meters wide, 9.42 tons in weight. (2008 Data)
★Tsuki Hoko is derived from the fact that the mikazuki (crescent moon) is attached to the top of the shingi (pillar), and Tsukiyomi-no -mikoto is enshrined on the tennoza of the shingi (pillar). The current mikazuki (crescent moon) is made of 18-karat gold and was a gift from Tanabe Yuzo in 1981. Tsuki Hoko is about 26.77 meters high, 6.85 meters long, 4.10 meters wide, 11.88 tons in weight. (2008 Data)
★Kikusui Hoko is derived from the famous well “Kikusui-i”, which was located in the Daikoku-an of Takeno Juou, a tea master and teacher of Sen no Rikyu, in the town in the late Muromachi period (1333-1573). Kikusui Hoko is about 25.00 meters high, 6.95 meters long, 3.95 meters wide, 10.31 tons in weight. (2008 Data)
★Naginata Hoko is derived from the fact that a great long sword, which exorcises plague and evil, is attached to the top of the shingi (pillar). In the past, it was attached to a great long sword made by Sanjo Kokaji Munechika. Naginata Hoko is about 21.76 meters high, 6.42 meters long, 4.35 meters wide, 11.1 tons in weight. (2008 Data)
★Shijo-dori runs east-west from the stone steps of Yasaka Shrine (Higashioji-dori) at the east end to Matsunoo Taisha Shrine (Matsuo Bridge) at the west end. Shijo-dori used to be Shijo-oji in Heian-kyo from Shin Kyogoku-dori to the Tenjin River area.
★Muromachi-dori runs north-south from Kitayama-dori at the northern end to Jujo-dori south at the southern end. It is said that the name Muromachi-dori was once there a muro, and that the Muromachi River ran through it. The Ashikaga shoguns built the Muromachi-dai (Muromachi-dono, Hana-no-Gosho Palace) on Muromachi-dori.

【Former Festival Yamahoko-hikizome 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・・・）