This past weekend was the start of the Gion Matsuri, a month-long summer festival in Kyoto. The streets were blocked off for pedestrian use only this weekend, culminating in a parade on Monday. The smaller side streets were lined with makeshift souvenir shops, and food stalls selling traditional Japanese food and sweets as well as food from around the world. As soon as it became dark Haruka and I took the bus to Gion, or as close as the bus could get to Gion, since the streets were blocked off. Of course festivals are a normal occurrence for Haruka, being Japanese and all, but everything was really exciting for me. The streets were really crowded, and many of the girls (and some guys too) were wearing yukata (summer kimono).

 

 

Along Shijo Dori there were several large wooden structures — called mikoshi, I think — built every block or so. At various times during the evening performances were held by groups of boys or men of similar ages wearing matching yukata and playing drums or flutes and ringing bells.

I also spotted these banners, and according to the sign next to it, there are something like 247 fish hand-painted on them. I actually don’t remember the exact number, but you get the idea. People were actually gathered around it trying to count the fish.

Haruka and I went to the river, and on any other night the west bank is dotted with evenly-spaced couples. However on this night the west bank was closed off to the public, and so the smaller east bank was lined with groups of young people taking a break from the festivities. As crowded as it was, Haruka and I managed to find a place to sit for a while.

On Monday morning, bright and early at 5:30 a.m., I met my friend Mai and her friend Rick at Nishioji Station. They had taken an overnight bus from Shizuoka to Kyoto. During the day Mai and Rick braved the heat and did hours of sight-seeing while I had lunch with Haruka and then retreated to the coolness of his apartment for the remainder of the afternoon. When darkness fell I met up with Mai and Rick and took them to the festival (poor Haruka had to work). We walked everywhere, and I was treated to tons of delicious food

Mai and Rick had to leave early on Tuesday morning, but I was really happy to see them, if only for a little while.