Gion Matsuri 2016
So today, I would like to share my thoughts about Gion matsuri, I went to see 4 days ago. It is held every year in Kyoto and it's one of the biggest and most famous matsuri in Japan. By "matsuri", you must understand "festival". It takes place during the entire month of July, and there are floats' parade on the 17th and the 24th. The three nights before each parade, the streets of the city center is closed to traffic during evening time, so the many many pedestrians can invade the streets. Stalls are lined on the streets where you can have typical Japanese food (Takoyaki, okonomiyaki, yakitori, etc.), sweets (dangos, mochis, kakigori, etc.) and games mainly for children.
This festival was done to prevent from black plague and natural disasters around the area (fire, earthquakes, floods, etc.)
The 14th, 15th and 16th, the floats are disposed in the city center so the people can see them before the big parade on the 17th. Many japanese people wear Yukata during this event.
So I went on the night of the 16th to admire this floats that are illuminated by paper lanterns. And I wore a yukata for the first time.
It's pretty hard to put a yukata on by yourself, but I one of my friend bought a yukata in a department store and somehow (i didnt asked for details) it included the help to put on yukatas for three persons... so I took my borrowed yukata to this store and had the employee to help me dress.
For the one who doesn't know what a yukata is, well it's a casual summer Kimono. The yukata are usually wore during matsuri by men and women and sometimes children.
I was really excited to wear a yukata, but I didn't expected to feel so hot in it... there are so many things to put on!!! First I had to wear an underskirt, undert-shirt and some kind of bra (I think you can find underdress to put instead). Then she put the yukata on me, close right side ( to left) then left side (to right) and hold it with a small tissu belt called koshihimo. She fold the top part of the yukata to hide the koshihimo and make a nice fold. Under the arms there is an opening, she attached a kimono belt from left side to right side on the back. She placed a thick waist band called datejime on top of the kimono belt and another belt called maeita (this one is large and hard in the front)... good I'm already sweating and I'm still in the nice air-con store. Finally, she placed the Obi belt around my waist. The Obi belt is quite long so she made 2 turns around my waist... no need to tell that I can hardly move and breathe, just like wearing a corset (I feel like Elizabeth in Pirate of the Caribbean^^). Now that I'm dressed, it's time to master the walking with it... don't try to make big steps because it's not possible... taking stairs is even funnier... Geta (traditional japanese shoes) makes it all harder. So at first you kinda look funny walking in it, but eventually you master the tiny steps and take the escalators so you can finally enjoy your yukata (minus the sweat... oh disturbing it is to feel these small drops of water running alongs your legs!) and enjoy the matsuri.
Because I live in Osaka, I had to take the train for Kyoto (it's not really far so it's ok). At first I was a bit disturbed by wearing the yukata, I mean I felt like everyone was staring at me (as I'm a foreigner people usually tend to look at me more than they should, I'm used to it but with the yukata on I felt a bit shy), but then I forgot about the people! Ok so I complained a bit about not being able to make big steps, but honestly when we arrived in Kyoto city center, it was not a problem anymore as the streets were extremely crowded. It was really hard to walk around, especially around the most famous floats!!!
Here, 2 photos of the number 1 famous float:
My friends and I went to eat in a Gyoza restaurant and later in the evening, I tried the kakigori (shaved ice flavored with syrup) with lemon syrup flavor.
So this was my first ever matsuri, very fun and interesting experience, even if I would have enjoyed it even better if there was less people around (I'm not too fond of crowds)! I wisha I could have seen the parade on the 17th, next time maybe ^^
This festival was done to prevent from black plague and natural disasters around the area (fire, earthquakes, floods, etc.)
The 14th, 15th and 16th, the floats are disposed in the city center so the people can see them before the big parade on the 17th. Many japanese people wear Yukata during this event.
So I went on the night of the 16th to admire this floats that are illuminated by paper lanterns. And I wore a yukata for the first time.
It's pretty hard to put a yukata on by yourself, but I one of my friend bought a yukata in a department store and somehow (i didnt asked for details) it included the help to put on yukatas for three persons... so I took my borrowed yukata to this store and had the employee to help me dress.
For the one who doesn't know what a yukata is, well it's a casual summer Kimono. The yukata are usually wore during matsuri by men and women and sometimes children.
I was really excited to wear a yukata, but I didn't expected to feel so hot in it... there are so many things to put on!!! First I had to wear an underskirt, undert-shirt and some kind of bra (I think you can find underdress to put instead). Then she put the yukata on me, close right side ( to left) then left side (to right) and hold it with a small tissu belt called koshihimo. She fold the top part of the yukata to hide the koshihimo and make a nice fold. Under the arms there is an opening, she attached a kimono belt from left side to right side on the back. She placed a thick waist band called datejime on top of the kimono belt and another belt called maeita (this one is large and hard in the front)... good I'm already sweating and I'm still in the nice air-con store. Finally, she placed the Obi belt around my waist. The Obi belt is quite long so she made 2 turns around my waist... no need to tell that I can hardly move and breathe, just like wearing a corset (I feel like Elizabeth in Pirate of the Caribbean^^). Now that I'm dressed, it's time to master the walking with it... don't try to make big steps because it's not possible... taking stairs is even funnier... Geta (traditional japanese shoes) makes it all harder. So at first you kinda look funny walking in it, but eventually you master the tiny steps and take the escalators so you can finally enjoy your yukata (minus the sweat... oh disturbing it is to feel these small drops of water running alongs your legs!) and enjoy the matsuri.
Because I live in Osaka, I had to take the train for Kyoto (it's not really far so it's ok). At first I was a bit disturbed by wearing the yukata, I mean I felt like everyone was staring at me (as I'm a foreigner people usually tend to look at me more than they should, I'm used to it but with the yukata on I felt a bit shy), but then I forgot about the people! Ok so I complained a bit about not being able to make big steps, but honestly when we arrived in Kyoto city center, it was not a problem anymore as the streets were extremely crowded. It was really hard to walk around, especially around the most famous floats!!!
Here, 2 photos of the number 1 famous float:
My friends and I went to eat in a Gyoza restaurant and later in the evening, I tried the kakigori (shaved ice flavored with syrup) with lemon syrup flavor.
So this was my first ever matsuri, very fun and interesting experience, even if I would have enjoyed it even better if there was less people around (I'm not too fond of crowds)! I wisha I could have seen the parade on the 17th, next time maybe ^^