Ato Matsuri – The Later Festival

One of the most awaited cultural events of the year in Japan, Kyoto's Gion Matsuri or Gion Festival is a gigantic ritual praying to Japanese deities for good health and wellbeing, specifically freedom from epidemics and other illnesses that were common in the annual summer rains.

The festival consists of two main parts: the Saki Matsuri (‘Early Festival’) and the Ato Matsuri (‘Later Festival’). The Ato Matsuri runs from 18 July to 24 July each year. After the Saki Matsuri serves to ritually welcome the festival deities to downtown Kyoto, the Ato Matsuri floats’ procession on July 24 serves to pay respect to these three deities as they say good-bye for another year. Then the kankosai procession escorts the desities back to their residence, Yasaka Shrine. 

The Ato Matsuri Celebration

Gion Festival patrons and regular visitors have deep spiritual connections with the festival and its deities. From July 18th, the local Ato Matsuri communities - including local residents and companies - construct and display their floats, as well as both historic and contemporary treasures. Many of these are artistic masterpieces.

A highlight of the Ato Masturi is its more subdued, community atmosphere. With 11 floats, it is smaller than the Saki Matsuri, which has 23.

Another highlight is the byobu matsuri, “folding screen festival.” Historic families and businesses generously display folding screens and other family heirlooms for the public to enjoy as part of the unique Ato Matsuri ambience.

Gion Festival is not just a festival, it is a culmination of historicity, the culture as well as people that are involved in the process. The total number of floats is 11. It is one of Kyoto’s and Japan’s biggest and best-loved festivals.

Each year the Gion Festival brings hope, joy, beauty, and a sense of community. It has continued for more than 1100 years, amid economic ups and downs and bigger challenges such as covid and radiation effects. Though scaled back recently due to covid, each year the spirited community finds a way to celebrate the Gion Matsuri and Ato Matsuri festivals, bringing the community together and growing our community and cultural resilience.