Prior to the Gion Festival's "Shinko-sai" ritual on July 17, the "Mikoshi Arai," or ritual to purify a portable shrine with water from the Kamo River, was held at Shijo Ohashi Bridge, Kyoto City, on the evening of July 10.

At 7:00p.m., big torches were lit at Yasaka Shrine in Higashiyama Ward. First, a round trip to purify Shijo-dori Street between the shrine and the bridge was made. Then, the undecorated "Nakagoza," one of the three portable shrines, departed from the shrine, and headed toward the bridge accompanied by the high-spirited shouts of men.

On the bridge, water brought that morning from the Kamo River was sprinkled onto the portable shrine by the shrine's priest with "Sakaki," or sacred branches, to welcome the deity of water. "Yocho," or men carrying the portable shrine, and children also leaned forward into the splashing water, and their excitement and enthusiasm filled the air.