Gion matsuri

Gion Matsuri Parade 2004

Ah, this year, the parade was held on a rainy day. It was pouring the whole morning and the rain continued to pour the whole day. Nevertheless, a lot of people did turned up to see the parade, including us. The pictures are all from two years ago, since I did not attend last year's parade.


Turning of the hoko

So there we were, standing in the pouring rain with our umbrellas waiting for the parade to reach us. I had my camera with me and the bag was rapidly becoming wet! So I gave up and stood under the shelter of a nearby hotel. The others stood with the umbrellas in the rain to catch their first Gion Yamahoko Junko.




Hokos

So eventually, the parade came to where we were standing. I thought they will postpone the parade since it was raining rather heavily, but they didn't. The precious tapestries and figurines were covered in plastics. The men were all soaking wet.


Enthusiatic fellas


I could see a little from where I stood. Or rather, I could see the top of the hokos from where I stood.


Models of the hokos

Well, my friends ended up getting soaked to the bone but they had fun. We left before the parade finished. The rain kept pouring the entire day.


What is going on down there?

Despite the pouring rain, the people all turned up for their reserved seatings. Everyone of them was given raincoats and hats.


Yamahoko Junko (Gion Matsuri Parade) 2006

And finally the ONLY picture I took of the parade this year!