Iwato Yama of Gion Matsuri Festival

The information of Iwato Yama is presented here. Iwato Yama is a large-sized Yamahoko float (Hikiyama float), and its symbol is a pine tree reaching vertically to the sky. Hayashi-kata (music group) playing Gion-bayashi (Gion Matsuri music) board Iwato Yama during Former Festival Yamahoko-Junko (Float Procession, Yamaboko Parade). Iwato Yama is derived from the Japanese myth of Ama-no-Iwato, and enshrines Amaterasu-omikami, who is considered the ancestor of the Emperor.

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

【Iwato Yama Location Map ＆ Directions】

Address: Iwatoyama-cho, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan
Access (How to get there): Subway Shijo Station (about 7 minutes on foot), Hankyu Karasuma Station (about 9 minutes on foot)
Location: Iwato Yama is located on Shinmachi-dori, about 90 meters south of the intersection of Shinmachi-dori (north-south) and Bukkoji-dori (east-west).

【Iwato Yama History and Brief Overview】

The origin of Iwato Yama (岩戸山) 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 “Iwato Yama 岩戸山 (between Gojo Bomoncho and Takatsuji)”, and Iwato Yama is said to have already been founded before the Onin War. Iwato Yama is also said to have been founded in 1441 during the revival of Gion Goryoe, the origin of Gion Matsuri Festival. In 1574 during the Sengoku period (1493-1590), Oda Nobunaga presented to Uesugi Kenshin the “Rakuchu Rakugai-zu Byobu” (Uesugi version) by the painter Kano Eitoku, which depicts the wheels of Iwato Yama, Iwato Yama is said to have already changed from a Yamahoko float without a wheel to a Yamahoko float with wheels. The present Iwato Yama was converted into a Hikiyama float in the middle of the Edo period (1603-1868), and even today, the shinmatsu (pine tree) stands on the roof instead of the shingi (pillar). Incidentally, it is said that both Kitakannon Yama and Minamikannon Yama, two floats of Latter Festival, were also converted following the example of Iwato Yama.

★Iwato Yama is derived from the Japanese myth (Japan’s oldest history book “Kojiki” and Japan’s oldest official history book “Nihonshoki”) of Ama-no-Iwato, in which Amaterasu-omikami opens Ama-no-Iwato and appears. Amaterasu-omikami was angered by the violence of his younger brother, Susano-no-mikoto, and hid in Ama-no-Iwato, and the world became dark. So, the troubled Yasoyorodu-no-kami (Eight Million Gods) gathered on the banks of the Ama-no-Yasunokawara River and held a great banquet to open Ama-no-Iwato, and then Amaterasu-omikami opened Ama-no-Iwato. Iwato Yama was later called “Ama no Sakahoko”.
★Amaterasu-omikami was born as the first child of Izanagi-no-mikoto (father) and Izanami-no-mikoto (mother). It is also said that Amaterasu-omikami was born from the left eye of Izanagi-no-mikoto when Izanagi-no-mikoto survived from the Yomi-no-kuni (underworld) where Izanami-no-mikoto resided and purified himself from the Yomi-no-kuni (underworld). Amaterasu-omikami ruled over Takamagahara, as opposed to Tsukiyomi-no-mikoto’s Yoru-no-osukuni and Susanoo-no-mikoto’s Ne-no-kuni. Amaterasu-omikami has the characteristics of both a sun god and a priestess, and is enshrined in the Naiku (inner shrine) of Ise Jingu Shrine as the imperial ancestral deity. The Goshintai of Amaterasu-omikami is said to be the Yata-no-Kagami (mirror). Amaterasu-omikami gave his grandson, Ninigi-no-mikoto, an imperial edict and three sacred objects consisting of the Yata-no-Kagami (mirror), the Ama-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi (sword), and the Yasakani-no-Magatama, and had him rule over Toyoashihara-no-nakatsukuni, thus becoming the beginning of the nation of Japan.
*reference・・・Iwato Yama website

【Features (subject to change)】

★Iwato Yama is about 14.045 meters high, 6.35 meters long, 3.90 meters wide, 8.25 tons in total weight, and has a minimum turning radius of 5.85 meters. (2008 Data)
★Iwato Yama enshrines Amaterasu-omikami and Tadikarao-no-mikoto, who pulled Amaterasu-omikami out of Iwato inside, and enshrines Izanagi-no-mikoto on the roof.
Amaterasu-omikami is dressed in a white robe with a mirror hanging from her chest, Tadikarao-no-mikoto is dressed in a white robe and wears a tokan (crown), and Izanagi-no-mikoto carries a sword and sticking out the ame-no-nuboko (spear).
★The “Kinjichakusai Soka-zu (Flowers and Grasses)” of the attic was painted by Imao Keinen, and the “Kinjichakusai Sekirei-zu (Wagtail)” of the front and back eaves were painted by Nakajima Kaho. a disciple of Imao Keinen. The mae-kake (front) is a Chinese carpet with a lion design, the do-kake (side) is an Indian carpet with an arabesque design, and the miokuri (back) is a tsudureori of the “Jitsugetsu Ryukarako Kiyu-zu”. The shita-mizuhiki, the niban-mizuhiki and sanban-mizuhiki were replaced by a replica in 2005. The tenjomaku was newly created in 2011. In addition, the 17th century Chosen tsudureori of the old mae-kake (front) and the Venetian map by Minagawa Taizo of the miokuri (back), are preserved.
★Chimaki for good luck, mini zongzi, towels, fans, T-shirts, and senja-fuda (amulets for praying at shrines) are available for purchase. The purchase of chimaki and other items may allow you to board Kanko Hoko. (Confirmation required)

【Events (confirmation required)】

★In Former Festival Yamahoko-hikizome on July 13th, newly assembled Iwato Yama 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 Iwato Yama are lit and Gion-bayashi (Gion Matsuri music) is played in the evening.
★In Hiyori-Kagura on July 16th, Hayashi-kata (music group) of Iwato Yama 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 Iwato Yama depart from Shijo-Karasuma and parade along Shijo-dori, Kawaramachi-dori, and Oike-dori. Iwato Yama is kuji-torazu (without drawing lots), and the 22nd in the procession of Former Festival Yamahoko-Junko, and tsuji-mawashi (turning of streets) is performed at the intersection.

【Iwato Yama 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・・・）