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 13th. 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 13th, Hoka Hoko, Fune Hoko and Iwato Yama are pulled. Incidentally, Toro Yama-kakizome is also held every year on July 13th.

• 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 Saturday, July 13th, 2024. Hoka Hoko (Shinmachi-dori), Fune Hoko (Shinmachi-dori), and Iwato Yama (Shinmachi-dori) will be pulled at 15:00. Incidentally, Toro Yama will (Nishinotoin-dori) will also be pulled at 12:00.
●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 13th, before Former Festival Yamahoko-Junko (Float Procession, Yamaboko Parade) on July 17th. In Former Festival Yamahoko-hikizome on July 13th, Hoka Hoko (放下鉾), Fune Hoko (船鉾), and Iwato Yama (岩戸山) are pulled. Incidentally, Toro Yama-kakizome (蟷螂山舁き初め) is also held every year on July 13th. 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. Hoka Hoko, Fune Hoko and Iwato Yama are pulled on Shinmachi-dori, and Toro Yama is pulled on Nishitoin-dori. In Former Festival Yamahoko-hikizome, you can not only see Yamahoko floats, but the public can also experience pulling them. (Confirmation is required.)
By the way, in Former Festival Yamahoko-hikizome on July 12th, Kanko Hoko, Niwatori Hoko, Tsuki Hoko, Kikusui Hoko, and Naginata Hoko are pulled.

★Hoka Hoko is derived from the fact that Hoka-so (monk) is enshrined on the tennoza of Shingi (pillar). The word “Hoka” originally comes from the Zen sect of Buddhism and means to throw away everything and reach a state of selflessness. Hoka Hoko is about 24.60 meters high, 6.34 meters long, 3.80 meters wide, 10.32 tons in weight. (2008 Data)
★Fune Hoko is derived from the story of the “Sankan Seibatsu” of the pregnant Empress Jingu. Since Fune Hoko originated from the departure of a ship on an expedition to Shiragi, it is said to be “Shutsujin no Funehoko (Departure)”, while Ofune Hoko is said to be “Gaisen no Funehoko (Triumph)”. Fune Hoko is about 6.60 meters high, 6.85 meters long, 3.30 meters wide, 8.41 tons in weight. (2008 Data)
★Iwato Yama is derived from “Nihon Shinwa (Japanese mythology)” in which Amaterasu-omikami opens the Ama-no-Iwata and appears. It is said that Amaterasu-omikami hid in Ama-no-Iwata and the world became dark. Iwato Yama is about 14.045 meters high, 6.35 meters long, 3.90 meters wide, 8.25 tons gross weight. (2008 Data)
★Toro Yama is derived from a Chinese story in which a praying mantis, about to be run over by a large car, confronts it with its sickle raised. Toro Yama weighs about 1.22 tons. (2008 Data)
★Shinmachi-dori runs north-south from Kamigamo Bridge at the northern end to Jujo-dori South at the southern end. Shinmachi-dori used to be Machijiri-koji and Machiguchi-koji in Heian-kyo. It is said that after the Kamakura period (1185-1333), Shinmachi-dori became Machi-koji, which ran through the center of town and was lined with mud storehouses and other buildings.
★Nishitoin-dori runs north-south from Mushanokoji-dori at the northern end to Jujo-dori at the southern end. However, Nishitoin-dori is interrupted along the way at Kyoto Station. Nishitoin-dori used to be Nishinotoin-oji in Heian-kyo and used to be about 24 meters wide.

【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・・・）