GION MATSURI is one of the most famous Japanese festivals. It is primarily an event for the god "GOZU TENNO". The event time is all of July. But the most famous part is "YAMABOKOZYUNNKOU" on July 17. The "YOIYAMA" before it is famous too. Every year about a million visitors come to Kyoto to enjoy it.
The street SHIJOTORI become a pedestrian street from 18:00-21:30 every night during July 14^th - 16^th. There are many HOKO and YAMA on this street side and we can walk down the street freely.
Especially at "YOIYAMA", we can see many people wearing YUKATA walking on the street and a lot of stands on both sides of the street. YUKATA is Japanese folk costume. It has long sleeves so wearing it is a little hot. But for girls it is a fashionable item in the summer. The stands sell many different foods and things. For example, french fries; fried chicken; YAKISOBA; KAKIGOORI (shaved ice with syrup on the top) and so on. The shop of catching goldfish is a standard stall, too.
The GION MATSURI is a pleasant festival for me, too. I have liked the GION MATSURI from my first visit Japan. It is a fusion of old things and new things. So it is very interesting. If you have chance to come to Kyoto, please come in July at any cost!