The Ato Matsuri: “Later Festival” July 18-24

 The Gion Festival’s eye-catching float display has two parts. The first is the larger saki matsuri (“early festival”) from July 10-17. Next comes the more intimate ato matsuri (“later festival”) from July 18-24. Traditionally, the saki matsuri is when Kyoto townspeople welcome the Yasaka Shrine deities to come purify downtown Kyoto. The ato matsuri is like a ritual bidding the deities farewell before they go back to Yasaka Shrine. Meanwhile, each of the float’s own deities also purify or bless the city and its people for the upcoming year. 

Kyoto's mystical Gion Festival peaks in two parts in the third week of July. Click here to learn more about the more intimate second part, July 18-24- https://www.gionfestival.org/yamaboko-floats/ato-matsuri/