The "Yamahoko Junko," or the float parade in the Gion festival, one of Japan's three major festivals, proceeded through downtown Kyoto City on July 17. While "Gion-bayashi" festival music played, the procession of 32 floats, decorated in magnificent splendor showing the essence of Kyoto citizens' culture and also called "movable art museums," moved along the streets of the ancient capital.

The Yamahoko floats gathered in the Shijo-Karasuma area; around 9:00a.m. upon the signal shout of "En-yara-ya," Naginata Hoko, the parade's leading float, headed east. As they passed Shijo-dori Fuyacho, the "Chigo," or sacred child, swung down a long sword to cut the "Shimenawa" rope, and huge cheers thundered out.

The "Araretenjin Yama" float had the position of "Yama Ichiban," or this year's initial float following the Naginata Hoko float. At the "Kuji Aratame" ritual where procession order is confirmed in Shijo-dori Sakaimachi, representatives from each float showed their tickets to the official with unique traditional gestures. Spectators roared with excitement at the "Tsuji Mawashi," or the floats' dynamic ninety-degree turning, that was performed at crossroads such as Shijo Kawaramachi and Kawaramachi Oike. After the procession, each float was taken back to its community and dismantled immediately.

This year's procession took place on Sunday for the first time in six years, and the roads were lined with approximately 200,000 people, according to Kyoto Prefectural Police.