Kyoto Yoiyama Festival Images 2013

宵山２０１３年のイメージ

We will be out and about at Kyoto's annual Yoiyama festival. Downtown basically closes for three nights in the leadup to the July 17 Gion Festival.

Here is a taste of some of the images from last year.

The "hoko" floats are out on display, and thousands and thousands of Kyotoites will be out in their yukata robes.

It is a wonderful, special night.


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Kyoto Yoiyama Festival 2014

宵山２０１４年

On what is no doubt Japan's largest street party - the three consecutive nights in Kyoto prior to the climax of Gion Festival, on July 17 - is about to kick off. On those three nights - each of those three nights - hundreds of thousands of revelers will be out and about.

The first of the "Yama" nights is Yoiyoiyoiyama （宵々々山）. The next night, July 15th, is known as Yoiyoiyama (宵々山) . The climax is the night before the parade on the 17th and is called Yoiyama (宵山). A typical turnout on the final night is 300,000 - 500,000 people

On each of these three nights, most of downtown Kyoto is closed to vehicular traffic. Moreover, the massive floats that are pulled around the city on July 17th are put out on display in the areas they represent, all of which are close to Shijo - Karasuma.

Streets are filled with stalls selling food - yakitori (barbecued chicken skewers), taiyaki, takoyaki, okonomiyaki, traditional Japanese sweets - and carnival games for children.

Many come dressed in yukata (a light cotton summer kimono). Old and young come with fans, Japanese purses, and other traditional gear as they enjoy the evening strolling around the central part of the city.

Last, in certain areas. private houses open their entryways to the public to exhibit valuable family heirlooms. This custom dates back centuries and is known as the Byobu Matsuri, or Folding Screen Festival.

For those arriving on a bicycle, park along Oike Dori. Then walk. Don't even think of cycling in central Kyoto on these nights.


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Images from Kyoto Yoiyama Festival 2013

宵山２０１３年のイメージ

Torrential rains throughout the day yesterday made going out to the first night of Yoiyama festival touch-and-go.

Finally, though, at six pm, things looked calm enough to head out.

We cycled to Karasuma - Imadegawa, parked the bike, then took the subway two stops to Oike.

From there the floats, street stalls, and yukata-clad crowd beckoned.

There was no more rain, and the crowd was large and peaceful.


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Kyoto Yoiyama Festival 2013

宵山２０１３年

Japan's largest street party - the three consecutive nights in Kyoto prior to the climax of Gion Festival, on July 17 - is about to kick off. On those three nights - each of those three nights - hundreds of thousands of revelers will be out and about.

The first of the "Yama" nights is Yoiyoiyoiyama （宵々々山）, and on that night, July 14th, might see a bigger than usual turnout as the following Monday is a holiday.

The next night, July 15th, is known as Yoiyoiyama (宵々山) .

The climax is the night before the parade on the 17th and is called Yoiyama (宵山). We predict 400,000 will turn out. 

On each of these three nights, most of downtown Kyoto is closed to vehicular traffic. Moreover, the massive floats that are pulled around the city on July 17th are put out on display in the areas they represent, all of which are close to Shijo - Karasuma.

Streets are filled with stalls selling food - yakitori (barbecued chicken skewers), taiyaki, takoyaki, okonomiyaki, traditional Japanese sweets - and carnival games for children.

Many come dressed in yukata (a light cotton summer kimono). Old and young come with fans, Japanese purses, and other traditional gear as they enjoy the evening strolling around the central part of the city.

Last, in certain areas. private houses open their entryways to the public to exhibit valuable family heirlooms. This custom dates back centuries and is known as the Byobu Matsuri, or Folding Screen Festival.

For those arriving on a bicycle, park along Oike Dori. Then walk.


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Kyoto Gion Festival Traffic Restrictions

１０日から交通規制　祇園祭で京都府警

Starting tomorrow traffic restrictions go into effect in central Kyoto. This is so that the Gion Matsuri (Festival) floats can be put out in the streets in preparation for the Yoiyama night-time festival and Gion Festival itself.

The restrictions will be in place until July 18.

For those that can read Japanese, the map at right highlights the streets in which restrictions will be implemented.

For the three nights of the Yoiyama festival - from July 14 - 16 - the Shijo - Karasuma intersection and surrounding area will be closed to vehicles between 6 pm - 11 pm.  Cyclists should also stay clear of this area as it will be packed with hundreds of thousands of revelers on foot.

In addition, 3200 Kyoto police will be on hand to maintain order.

For those cycling, park along Oike and then wade into the crowd on foot.

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Yoiyama 2012 Woman in Kimono

京都宵山着物と帯

This woman must be somebody.

Her bearing was regal, her obi and kimono exquisite.

Even without them, she had presence.

Her hair - which is real - was pulled back in dramatic fashion.

As she strode the street on the evening of July 14 during the Yoiyama (actually, Yoiyoiyama) festival in Kyoto, she drew the stares of many.


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Kyoto News Yoiyama 2012

祇園囃子の音、熱波に包まれ宵山に４０万人

Japan's largest street party - the three consecutive nights in Kyoto prior to the climax of Gion Festival, on July 17 - witnessed hundreds of thousands of revelers out and about each night.

The first of the "Yama" nights is Yoiyoiyoiyama （宵々々山）, and on that night, July 14th - Vive la France! - 250,000 Kyotoites went downtown to enjoy the sights.

The next night, July 15th, is known as Yoiyoiyama (宵々山) and 290,000 came out in their yukata this year.

The night before the parade on the 17th is called Yoiyama (宵山). On that night, 400,000 turned out. (Estimates are all courtesy of the Kyoto Police.)

On each of these three nights, much of downtown Kyoto is closed to vehicular traffic. Moreover, the massive floats that are pulled around the city on July 17th are put out on display in the areas they represent, all of which are close to Shijo - Karasuma.

Streets are filled with stalls selling food - yakitori (barbecued chicken skewers), taiyaki, takoyaki, okonomiyaki, traditional Japanese sweets - and carnival games for children.

Many come dressed in yukata (a light cotton summer kimono). Old and young come with fans, Japanese purses, and other traditional gear as they enjoy the evening strolling around the central part of the city.

Last, in certain areas. private houses open their entryways to the public to exhibit valuable family heirlooms. This custom dates back centuries and is known as the Byobu Matsuri, or Folding Screen Festival.


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Kyoto Yoiyama 2012

宵山２０１２年

Yoiyama is a massive street party held the night before Gion Matsuri, the most famous festival in Japan. The main event of the festival is held under blistering skies on July 17.

Far better is the night before (or the two preceding nights as well), which is known locally as Yoiyama.

Much of Kyoto turns out in their finest yukata robes on July 16 (and the 14th and 15th) for a night of beer, squid on a stick, people watching, and more.

From 6 pm until 11 pm, the streets of downtown Kyoto are closed to traffic.

Vendors set up shop selling beer, chicken, squid, and games.

The massive floats - "hoko" - that will be pulled around in the blistering heat the following day are on display. Maps are available at both Kyoto Station and downtown at the festival itself.

Unlike July 17, Gion Festival day, it is possible to get up close and inspect the floats.

And walk and drink beer and eat and check out the crowd until late at night.

It is earthly paradise (as long as you stay away from the crush along Shijo).

Be warned: about 500,000 people will be out, so hold tight to children and stay north of Shijo.

Advice: go to the corner of Karasuma - Oike. From there walk south and into side streets. Free maps are available. But stay far north of Shijo until very late.

Cyclists: Park on Oike in the pubic bike stands.

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Japanese Cop

京都のお巡りさん

Being a cop is a pretty thankless, low-paid, long-hours kind of deal.

You deal with a lot of jerks, see a lot of weird and no doubt unpleasant stuff, and don't get a lot of respect.

In Kyoto, cops probably have it easier than back in Philadephia - our home town - where in large areas of the city it is not advisable to go at night.

This young guy, on the beat on the night of the Yoiyama Festival (July 16th), was polite and helpful when we asked him a question.

For the most part, Japanese police are polite and helpful.

On a boiling hot night, he eschewed polite verb forms and got straight to the point: "go down this street, turn left and head south. You're going to run into a huge crowd, but you probably already know that."

We thanked him and braced ourselves.

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Kyoto Yoiyama 2011

宵山２０１１年

450,000 revelers turned out for this year's Yoiyama Festival in Kyoto.

Yoiyama is a street party held the night before Gion Matsuri, the most famous festival in Japan.

Much of Kyoto turns out for the event.

From 6 pm until 11 pm, the streets of downtown Kyoto are closed to traffic. People come dressed in yukata summer robes.

Vendors set up shop selling beer, chicken, squid, and more.

The massive floats - "hoko" - that will be pulled around in the blistering heat the following day are on display. Maps are available at both Kyoto Station and downtown at the festival itself.

Unlike July 17, Gion Festival day, it is possible to get up close and inspect the floats.

And walk and drink beer and eat and check out the crowd, repeat.

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Yoiyama Sights

宵山の名勝

Ah, the delights of summer.

Fan tucked in the obi, young women (and men) in yukata robes strolled the streets of Kyoto on July 16.

This is of course the night of Kyoto's - Japan's - largest street party, which is known as Yoiyama.

On that night, 450,000 people showed up, mostly in yukata, to enjoy the sights and sounds and taste of a mid-summer.

Dress ranges from elaborate yukata, no doubt done up by a professional, to short short shorts and light tops.

In between were many less fancy yukata and, for men, jinbei.

Jinbei is a type of summer pajamas.

The bottom are cotton shorts with a draw string that reach to about 5-10 cm above the knee.

The top is also made of light cotton and has strings on the inside. It crosses the chest, leaving a "V" shape below the neck.

Many men topped this look off with a straw hat, which are no longer the reserve of old men and hipsters.

Because of the ongoing energy crisis in Japan, old style straw hats, hand held fans, and other "Showa" era accoutrements are making a comeback.

One look that is definitely not retro is the bird's nest hair style.

This was big a few year's back, and thankfully has lost its luster.

Several woman though were spotted sporting the look. And that will be tomorrow's offering.

Stay tuned.

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Kyoto Yoiyama Festival

宵山

July 16th is the best night of the year in Kyoto.

On that night, 12 hours before the Gion Festival parade, Kyotoites turn out in the thousands - actually, hundreds of thousands - in their cotton summer  yukata to stroll and drink beer and eat squid on a stick and stare at women (and men) and look up close at the massive Gion floats that will be pulled around for the masses the next morning.

The streets of downtown Kyoto are closed to cars from 6 pm, and a huge street party ensues.

The floats are on display in the streets in the neighborhood northwest of Shijo-Karasuma.

Young and old come in groups, on a date, with grandmom. And nearly everyone comes decked out in a beautiful yukata. It is indeed a moveable feast.

Moreover, people who live in this part of downtown display their heirlooms: byobu, kimono, armor, textiles, decorative folding fans, etc.

Access

From Kyoto Station, take the Karasuma Subway Line two stops north to Shijo Karasuma Station (which is also on the Hankyu Line for Osaka).

For cyclists, park on Oike and walk south.

Note: the same festival is actually held three nights running: July 14, 15, and 16. It varies only in scale, with the last night being the biggest.

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