Becoming a Gion Festival Expert — A Journey Through Kyoto’s Living Tradition

 The Gion Matsuri isn’t just one festival—it’s a tapestry of neighborhoods, stories, and ancient artistry, all woven together in Kyoto’s heart every July. Becoming a real “Gion Festival expert” means more than memorizing dates. It means walking the narrow alleys, feeling the hum of wooden wheels, hearing elders’ stories, and watching the craftsmanship on every float. (From GionFestival.org’s “About” page.) 

Catherine Pawasarat, the creator of the site, didn’t grow up in Gion. But by living in a traditional home in Kyoto’s float-district since the early 1990s, interviewing festival elders, studying every one of the 34 floats, and collecting thousands of photos and videos, she’s become one of the most knowledgeable non-Japanese voices on this tradition. 

For visitors and lovers of culture, this kind of expertise offers something special: deeper understanding. You see details in the textiles, the carvings, the neighborhood pride, and rituals that might otherwise pass you by. That’s the joy of being more than just a spectator—it's joining a conversation that's centuries old.