WELCOME to GionFestival.com,
transformational media
regarding Kyoto’s extraordinary
Gion Festival.
Much of the world has heard of Venice's Carnival, France’s Bastille Day or New Orleans' Mardi Gras. Though little-known outside of Japan, the Gion Matsuri is one of Japan's grandest and oldest festivals -- it first took place in the year 869 C.E.!
With more than a millennium of history, this festival may well be one of the world's culturally richest. Its gargantuan wooden and straw floats are adorned with exquisite examples of Japanese and international art, offering unique glimpses at Japanese and global spiritual traditions, history and culture.
And for twenty years I have been able to find very little quality information about this festival is available in English ... which is why I've created this website. Please enjoy.
Click here to learn more about why this site is unique, and what about it may interest you.
at the prow of the Fune ("Boat") float, dedicated to Empress
Jingu; it's said she possessed mysterious powers over water.
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