The adventure has finally come to an end. The Gion Matsuri is Japan's most famous festival, with its origins reaching back all the way to 869. Spanning the whole month of July, it is studded with benchmark events. The most breathtaking of these amazing events is the Yamaboko Junko on July 17th, which sees a procession of 80-foot tall wheeled floats paraded throughout the city. The event is repeated on a smaller scale on July 24th. Yoiyama evening celebrations leading up to the parade close off the main streets to automotive traffic and fill them instead with food, drink, and game stalls. Visitors earlier in the month are welcome to watch the massive floats being assembled by hand for the celebration.

Being the last destination of our trip to Japan, the Gion Matsuri summarizes many different views of the cultural attributes of Japan. Food, music, traditional holidays, traditional clothing, and entertainment. This was our huge wrap-up of the entire trip, and we were glad we got our chance to explore this glorious land of the rising sun. 🌄 Sayonara! (Goodbye!)

"晴天の霹靂"

--thunder striking in a day with clear skies. A complete surprise, prepare for the unexpected.