Key Facts
• July 12, 2025: Trial run of floats held in Kyoto for Gion Festival.
• Five floats, including Naginata, Kanko, Tsuki, Tori, and Kikusuiboko, participated.
• Tori float’s wooden wheel repaired after damage during last year’s procession.
• About 200 participants, including students and children, pulled the Tori float.
• Participants chanted “Enyaraya” as the float moved slowly.
• Tori Float Preservation Society leader expressed satisfaction with the repairs.
• July 13: Additional trial runs scheduled for other floats, including Toroyama and Funaboko.
Summary
The Kyoto Gion Festival, one of Japan’s three major festivals, held a trial run of its floats on July 12, 2025, in preparation for the main procession on July 17. Five floats, including the Tori float, were moved through their respective neighborhoods accompanied by traditional Gion music. The Tori float, which had its wooden wheel repaired after last year’s damage, was successfully pulled by approximately 200 participants, including students and local children. The leader of the Tori Float Preservation Society expressed relief at the smooth operation of the repaired wheel. Additional trial runs for other floats are scheduled for July 13.
