The Gion Matsuri festival Tour
The Gion Matsuri festival in Kyoto is designated as a UNESCO Intangible World Heritage, and is said to be the largest in scale and the most gorgeous among all other major festivals in Japan. The time-honored ritual of the Yasaka Jinja Shinto shrine has been handed down generation to generation since the 9th century by the local people's enthusiasm and lifetime effort. The highlight is the opening procession of 23 floats on July 17th and the return procession of ten floats on July 24th. This guided tour is conducted during festival eves of July 14th to 16th, and July 21st to 23rd, when the floats are respectively set in the street and can be observed amid the lively yet classic atmosphere of the Shinto ritual.