Taka Yama of Gion Matsuri Festival

The information of Taka Yama is presented here. Taka 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 Taka Yama during Lormer Festival Yamahoko-Junko (Float Procession, Yamaboko Parade). Taka Yama was damaged by a heavy evening shower in 1826 during the late Edo period (1603-1868), and returned to Later Festival Yamahoko-Junko in 2022 for the first time in about 200 years.

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

【Taka Yama Location Map ＆ Directions】

Address: Koromodana-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan
Access (How to get there): Subway Shijo Station (about 13 minutes on foot), Hankyu Karasuma Station (about 11 minutes on foot)
Location: Taka Yama is located on Sanjo-dori, about 10 meters west of the intersection of Koromonotana-dori (north-south) and Sanjo (east-west).

【Taka Yama History and Brief Overview】

The origin of Taka Yama (鷹山) 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 “Takatsukahi Yama 鷹つかひ山 (between Shijo Muromachi and Nishinotoin)”, and Taka Yama is said to have already been founded before the Onin War. It is said that Taka Yama was served out of two towns, Koromodana-cho (town) and Kamaza-cho (town) in rare cases. By the way, Taka Yama used to be called “Taro Yama”, “Taruoi Yama”, “Takasho Yama”, or “Yukihira Yama”. In the “Gion Festival Folding Screen”, which is said to have been painted during the Kanei period (1624-1643) in the early Edo period (1603-1868), Taka Yama is depicted as Hikiyama float carrying three dolls and a pine tree (shinmatsu) on a float, with chigo (child) and Hayashi-kata (musical group) on board. Taka Yama was changed from Kakiyama float to Hikiyama float like Kitakannon Yama and Minamikannon Yama in the Edo period. In 1788, during the late Edo period (1603-1868), Taka Yama was burned down by the Tenmei-no-taika (Great Fire of Tenmei), but was restored as Hikiyama float which has large roof like the present Kitakannon Yama and Minamikannon Yama during the Kansei period (1789-1800). Later, in 1826, the kesohin (decoration) was defaced by a heavy evening shower, and in 1864, Taka Yama was burned down in the Genji-no-taika (Great Fire of Genji), leaving only Takasho (falconry), Inukai and Taruoi, which were the Goshintai and some of the kesohin (decoration).
Incidentally, Taka Yama became more luxurious to compete with other Yamahoko floats, and in the late Edo period Taka Yama is said to have been the hikiyama float with an ornate black lacquered gorgeous roof. Hayashi-kata was established in 2014, and the Takayama Preservation Society was established in May 2015, and certified as a public interest incorporated foundation in January 2016. In 2022, Taka Yama returned to Latter Festival Yamahoko-Junko (Float Procession, Yamaboko Parade).

★Airiwara no Yukihira was born as the 2nd son of Prince Abo Shinno, the 1st Prince of the 51st Emperor Heizei. Airiwara no Yukihira was the older brother of Airiwara no Narihira. At the request of Prince Abo Shinno, he and his brothers were given the name of “Aihara” and reduced to the rank of vassals. He served successively as Inaba-no-kami, Harima-no-kami, Shinano-no-kami, Sangi, Kurodo-no-to, and Chunagon, and in 881, he founded the Daigaku Beso Shogakuin as an academic institution for the Airiwara clan. Airiwara no Yukihira was well versed in waka poetry, and when he also served as Minbukyo, he held a poetry party (Zai Minbukyo-ke Utaai) at his residence, which is said to be the oldest poetry party. In the waka poetry of Airiwara no Yukihira, the Hyakunin Isshu was described as the 16th verse.
*reference・・・Taka Yama website

【Features (subject to change)】

★Taka Yama is about 17 meters high, 6 meters long, 4 meters wide, and is said to weigh over 10 tons in total. The roof is about 1.5 meters high, 4.9 meters long, and 4.3 meters wide, and is made of Nara Yoshino cypress. Taka Yama was made by Yasuimoku Komuten (Muko City) at its workshop in Kyotamba Town.
★Takasho (falconry) of the Goshintai (deity figure) holds a falcon in his hand, Inukai of the Goshintai (deity figure) leads a dog (inu), and Taruoi of the Goshintai (deity figure) eats a chimaki (rice cake) with a barrel (taru) on his back, and is said to represent the scene of Airiwara no Yukihira’s falconry during the visit of the 58th Emperor Koko in the early Heian period (794-1185).
★Gion-bayashi (Gion Matsuri music) of Taka Yama has not been handed down since Takayama was a yasumiyama float for a long time, and is arranged and composed based on Gion-bayashi (Gion Matsuri music) of Kitakannon Yama. In 2021, five new original pieces composed by Tosha Meisho, a living national treasure, were added. The five new original pieces are “Shirabe,” which sets the tone, “Jyo,” which progresses slowly, “Raku,” which expresses joy, “Yu,” which is fast-paced, and “Hi,” which evokes the image of an eagle in flight.
★The two tow ropes are about 50 meters long and 5 cm thick and are made of hemp.
★The susomaku (foot curtain) was designed by students and faculty members of Kyoto City University of Arts. The susomaku (foot curtain) incorporates the motif of grass swaying in the wind due to feel the state of falconry in the grassland. Costumes designed by Kyoto City University of Arts students are worn by Hayashi-kata (music group), Ondo-tori, Kuruma-kata, Hiki-kata, and Charinbo.
★Chimaki, charms, sensu (fans), etc., are available for purchase. The purchase of chimaki and other items may allow you to board Taka Yama. (Confirmation required)

【Events (confirmation required)】

★In Latter Festival Yamahoko-hikizome on July 20th, newly assembled Taka Yama is pulled a short distance, just as in the actual Latter Festival Yamahoko-Junko on July 24th.
★In Latter Festival Yoiyama from July 21st to July 23rd, Komagata-chochin lanterns of Taka Yama are lit and Gion-bayashi (Gion Matsuri music) is played in the evening.
★In Hiyori-Kagura on July 23rd, Hayashi-kata (music group) of Taka 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 Latter Festival Yamahoko-Junko (Float Procession, Yamaboko Parade).
★In Latter Festival Yamahoko-Junko (Float Procession, Yamaboko Parade) on July 24th, Yamahoko floats, including Taka Yama depart from Karasuma-Oike and parade along Oike-dori, Kawaramachi-dori, and Shijo-dori. Taka Yama is kuji-torazu (without drawing lots) and the 10th in the procession of Latter Festival Yamahoko-Junko, and tsuji-mawashi (turning of streets) is performed at the intersection.

【Taka 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・・・）