日本のよいものを世界へ

The oldest festival in Kyoto, with a parade of sword floats and portable shrines through the city

The Goryo Matsuri (Goryokai), the oldest festival in Japan dating back to 863, is held over 18 days from May 1 to 18, and is depicted in the national treasure Rakuchu Rakugai-zu Byobu (Scenes in and around Kyoto), a historical festival dating back to the Heian period. The “Kankosai” is held on the last day of the festival. Led by a sword float, a goshogashira (court carriage), an ox carriage, and three portable shrines, approximately 600 people in attendance parade through the Kyoto Gyoen and the town.

The highlight of the tour is its route. The procession will travel through Teramachi Dori and Kawaramachi Dori, and then through the arcades of Masugata Shopping Arcade, a shopping district in Demachi. At the Sakuhei-mon gate of the Kyoto Imperial Palace, the portable shrine is lifted higher than its normal carrying height and carried in a “yasage,” or lifting up.

At night, the portable shrines are returned to the shrine, and after the “mikoshi-furi” (swinging the portable shrines) and “yasage” (raising the portable shrines) are performed, the portable shrines are placed in the hall of worship.

A must-see is the passage through the arcade of the Demachi Masugata shopping street and the raising of the portable shrines. Watch the lively and bustling procession from the roadside.

Event Summary