Japan’s historic Gion festival keeps ancient Shinto traditions alive

Thousands of people gathered in the streets of Kyoto this month as Japan celebrated the Gion Matsuri, one of the country’s oldest and most famous festivals. Held every July, the event combines colourful parades, traditional music and religious ceremonies that date back more than a thousand years. While the festival attracts large crowds and visitors from around the world, its true purpose remains deeply connected to faith, protection and centuries old customs.

The highlight of the celebration is the procession of enormous wooden floats that move slowly through Kyoto’s streets. Some of these beautifully decorated floats weigh as much as 12 tonnes and are carefully pulled by teams of local residents. Participants dressed in traditional clothing perform music, songs and dances as the floats make their way through the city, creating a unique blend of culture and spirituality.

For people directly involved in the event, the experience carries deep religious meaning. Katsushi Horikawa, who rides on one of the towering floats, said he feels closest to the gods during the procession. He explained that although building the float is also important, the strongest feeling of spiritual connection comes while riding above the crowds during the parade.

Experts say the performances are not organised simply to entertain the public. According to religious scholars, the music, dances and ceremonies are considered offerings to the gods and form part of long standing Shinto beliefs. The festival began in the late ninth century when people believed epidemics were caused by angry spirits. Communities organised religious processions to seek protection from disease and to calm those spirits.

The festival takes its name from Kyoto’s historic Gion district and the Japanese word for festival, matsuri. At its centre is Yasaka Shrine, one of Kyoto’s best known Shinto shrines. The site has long been associated with protection from disasters and illness. Historians note that before the late nineteenth century the shrine also had strong Buddhist connections, showing how the two religions were closely linked in Japan for many centuries.

In earlier times, worship centred on a deity known as Gozu Tenno, who was believed to have the power to either spread or prevent epidemics. Religious experts say this figure reflected influences from Indian, Korean and Japanese traditions. During the earliest versions of the festival, worshippers carried symbols of the deity through the city to demonstrate that he would protect the community from harmful spirits. These processions later developed into the grand parades that continue today.

Japan officially separated Shinto and Buddhism during the Meiji era in 1868 as part of major political and religious reforms. The government placed greater emphasis on Shinto while many Buddhist sites and objects were destroyed during an anti Buddhist movement. Although Shinto was separated from state control after the Second World War, many of its traditions still reflect centuries of cultural exchange and religious influence.

The Gion Matsuri also preserves several unique customs. One of the most respected traditions is the selection of a young boy who serves as a sacred messenger to the gods during the festival. Throughout the procession, the child remains seated on one of the floats without allowing his feet to touch the ground. Months of preparation go into every part of the celebration as neighbourhoods work together to build and decorate the floats. Many participants believe these sacred structures help protect the city from evil spirits and misfortune, ensuring that one of Japan’s oldest festivals continues to honour its spiritual roots while bringing communities together.