Hoka Hoko of Gion Matsuri Festival

The information of Hoka Hoko (Hoka Boko) is presented here. Hoka Hoko is a large-sized Yamahoko float (Hoko float), and its symbol is the sun, moon, and star (hoko-gashira) attached to the tip of the shingi (pillar), which extends vertically to the sky. Hayashi-kata (music group) playing Gion-bayashi (Gion Matsuri music) and Chigo doll “Sankomaru” board Hoka Hoko during Former Festival Yamahoko-Junko (Float Procession, Yamaboko Parade). Hoka Hoko is derived from the fact that the statue of hoka-so (monk) is enshrined on the tennoza of Shingi (pillar).

Location Map ＆ Directions
History and Brief Overview
Features (subject to change)
Events (confirmation required)

【Hoka Hoko Location Map ＆ Directions】

Address: Komusubidana-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan
Access (How to get there): Subway Shijo Station (about 8 minutes on foot), Hankyu Karasuma Station (about 7 minutes on foot)
Location: Hoka Hoko is located on Shinmachi-dori, about 40 meters north of the intersection of Shinmachi-dori (north-south) and Shijo-dori (east-west).

【Hoka Hoko (Hoka Boko) History and Brief Overview】

The origin of Hoka Hoko (放下鉾) is not clear. In the “Gionshaki”, 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 “Hauka Hoku はうかほく (between Nishikikoji and Shijo)”, and Hoka Hoko is said to have already been founded before the Onin War. Later, in the middle of the Meiji period (1868-1912), the dogumi (rogumi), ceiling, pillars, roof, etc. were greatly renovated. Until 1928, Iki-Chigo (living child) was on board in the same way as Naginata Hoko, but in 1929, Iki-Chigo (living child) was replaced by Chigo doll.

★Hoka Hoko is derived from the fact that the statue of hoka-so (monk) is enshrined on the tennoza of Shingi (pillar). Hoka-so (monk) is a Zen Buddhist monk who appears in Noh plays with the theme of revenge. Hoka-so (monk) of Noh plays was created around the 15th century (the middle of the Muromachi-jidai period (1336-1573)), but its author is unknown. “Hoka” refers to today’s street performance, in which a person sings a story while keeping a rhythm with bamboo or performs a street performance or acrobatic act. Among hoka performers, those who looked like Zen Buddhist monks were called hoka-so (monk). By the way, the word “Hoka” originally comes from the Zen sect of Buddhism and means to throw away everything and reach a state of selflessness.
*reference・・・Hoka Hoko website

【Features (subject to change)】

★Hoka Hoko is about 24.60 meters high, 6.34 meters long, 3.80 meters wide, 10.32 tons in weight, and has a minimum turning radius of 6.15 meters. (2008 Data)
★The hoko-gashira, which attached to the tip of the shingi (pillar) is shaped like the three lights (sanko) of the sun, moon, and star that illuminate the world below. Because the hoko-gashira resembles the sweet “Suhama”, Hoka Hoko is also called “Suhama Hoko”.
★The tennoza of the shingi (pillar) enshrines hoka-so (monk). However, since Hoka-so (monk) is an outdoor monk, there does not seem to be a roof over hoka-so (monk).
★Chigo doll “Sankomaru” is made to be able to perform Chigo-mai (Taihei-no-mai). It is said that “Sankomaru” is the only Chigo doll that is made to perform Chigo-mai.
★The three red-crowned cranes on the front of the hafu and the two on the back are high-relief carvings based on a design by Kouno Bairei.
★The “Kinkishoga-zu” of the shita-mizuhiki was designed by Yosa Buson, but in 1994, it was replaced by a replica based on the design of the Kegonshu Ancestor Picture Biography (National Treasure) of Togano Kozan-ji Temple. The tsudureori with the design of a bird on a blue sea wave, of the sanban-mizuhiki was based on the design by Komai Genki, but was replaced by a replica. The mae-kake (front) and do-kake (side) are Indian and Persian carpets with floral designs, and the miokuri (back) was made in Kyoto Nishijin in 1828 in the late Edo period (1603-1868). The “Shiki Soka-zu” (seasonal flowers and grasses) of the ceiling curtain was newly created in 2010. The old do-kake (side) was a 16th century Chosen (Korea) tsuzure with a lion, and peony and crane pattern, but it has been preserved.
★Gion-bayashi (Gion Matsuri music) of Hoka Hoko includes “Watari (Honobayashi)”, “Kasumi-ni-chidori (Watarikasumi)”, “Go”, “Hiyori”, “Fuji”, “Jibayashi”, “Dancho”, “Ichi”, “Ni”, “San”, “Shi”, “Roku”, “Nana”, “Hato”, “Hachi”, “Kyu”, “Ju”, “Shishibotan”, “Asahi”, “Matsu”, “Kagura”, “Ran”, “Okina”, “Usagi”, “Midori-ni-asagao”, “Tora”, and “Hiyori Kagura”, and others.
★Chimaki, which can ward off bad luck and disease, towels, sensu (fans), bamboo straps etc. are available for purchase. The purchase of chimaki and other items may allow you to board Hoka Hoko. (However, women are restricted to the second floor of the Kaisho (meeting hall) and are not allowed to board the Naginata Hoko. (forbidden for women)

【Events (confirmation required)】

★In Former Festival Yamahoko-hikizome on July 13th, newly assembled Hoka Hoko is pulled a short distance, just as in the actual Former Festival Yamahoko-Junko on July 17th.
★In Former Festival Yoiyama from July 14th to July 16th, Komagata-chochin lanterns of Hoka Hoko are lit and Gion-bayashi (Gion Matsuri music) is played in the evening.
★In Hiyori-Kagura on July 16th, Hayashi-kata (music group) of Hoka Hoko go to Yasaka Shrine Otabisho while playing Gion-bayashi (Gion Matsuri music), and dedicate Gion-bayashi to pray for good weather on the next day, and for the safety of Former Festival Yamahoko-Junko (Float Procession, Yamaboko Parade).
★In Former Festival Yamahoko-Junko (Float Procession, Yamaboko Parade) on July 17th, Yamahoko floats, including Hoka Hoko depart from Shijo-Karasuma and parade along Shijo-dori, Kawaramachi-dori, and Oike-dori. Hoka Hoko is kuji-torazu (without drawing lots), and is the 21st in the procession of Former Festival Yamahoko-Junko, and tsuji-mawashi (turning of streets) is performed at the intersections.
Gion Matsuri Festival Schedule (July 1st-31st)

【Hoka Hoko of Gion Matsuri remarks】
*Events may be rescheduled or cancelled. Also, the content of the event may have changed.
祇園祭2026日程一覧（宵山屋台・山鉾巡行・・・）