[Gion Festival] The order of the Yamahoko parade has been decided.

When you think of Kyoto in July, you think of the Gion Festival! The 2026 Gion Festival has finally begun.

You probably see this month-long festival as simply a display of large floats, right?

The order of the floats in the Yamahoko procession (parade of floats) held on July 17th and 24th will be determined by a lottery held near Kyoto City Hall on July 2nd.The order for 2026 has also been decided.

1. No lottery（Kujitorazu）

The order of the parade is decided by lottery, but some floats have a fixed order that is determined every year.

The nine floats that will be used on the 17th (pre-festival) – Naginata Hoko, Kangoku Hoko, Hōka Hoko, Iwato Yama, and Fune Hoko – and on the 24th (post-festival) – Hashi Benkei Yama, Kita Kannon Yama, Minami Kannon Yama, and Ofune Hoko – have a predetermined order and are not drawn by lot, hence they are called "Kuji Torazu" (no lottery).

This route for the Yamahoko parade was easy to understand.

https://kyototravel.info/yamahokojunkousakiroute

2. Construction of the floats(Hoko)

The construction of the floats begins on July 10th. Every year, in the scorching heat exceeding 30 degrees Celsius, the people responsible for preserving each float work hard, sweating profusely, to assemble them.

Just walking along Shijo Street, you can see several of the floats being assembled, so this period is highly recommended.

3. Saki-matsuri (July 17)

1. Naginata Hoko Since ancient times, it has led the parade of floats.A distinctive feature of this float is the large sword (called a naginata) attached to the very top.
   

   

2. Kakkyo Yama

3. Urade Yama 

4. Yamabushi Yama

5. Shopping Cart

6. Aburatenjin Yama

7. Ayagasa Hoko

8. Teiji Yama

9. Tsuki Hoko

10. Toro Yama Toro means praying mantis. This float is popular with children, and it features a mechanism where the praying mantis's wheels move, making it the only float with this feature.

The act of resisting a powerful enemy without considering one's own capabilities is called "a praying mantis's axe."

11. Moso Yama

12. Hosho Yama

13. Niwatori Hoko

14. Tokusa Yama

15. Shijo-gasa Hoko

16. Araretenjin Yama

17. Buy Now

18. Hakuta Yama

19. Hakurakuten Ocean

20. Ashikari Yama

21. Buy Buy

22. Iwato Yama A pine tree stands at the front of the float. The swaying lanterns add to its vibrant appearance, making it one of the floats that truly evokes the feeling of summer.

23. Shopping Cart

4. Auto-matsuri (July 24)

1. Hashibenkei Yama

2. Kita-kannon Yama

3. Koi Yama

4. Hachiman Yama

5. Jomyojin Yama [Jomyo Yama]

6. Minami-kannon Yama

7. Suzuka Yama

8. Enno-gyoja Yama [Enno Yama]

9. Kuromushi Yama [Kuronushi Yama]

10. Taka Yama

11. Ofune Hoko It leads the parade of floats. This order never changes every year. Its distinctive feature is its large, ship-like shape.