The Gion Matsuri Festival, one of Japan’s three major festivals, incorporates a number of festivities held throughout July, with the highlights taking place during the Yamahoko Junko procession on July 17 (Early or Saki Matsuri Festival) and July 24 (Latter or Ato Matsuri Festival).
The Gion Festival’s history reaches over 1,000 years in the past and is a month-long festival held at Yasaka Shrine from July 1 to July 31. The Yamahoko procession on the 17 and 24 is also called a “moving gallery” because the floats are decorated with beautiful embroidery, imported fabrics, and other gorgeous ornaments.
*For more information (Kyoto Sightseeing Official Website)
Gion Matsuri Festival
The Kyoto City Tourism Association will provide paid viewing seats for the procession. We will be offering “Gion Matsuri Premium Seats” this year in order to provide a one-of-a-kind experience. In addition, we will also be selling reserved seats in the general seating area that will allow visitors to watch the procession closely from the front-row. Part of the proceeds from the sales of these seats will be used to preserve and support the Gion Matsuri festival.
This year, all seats will come with an official guidebook and Japanese hand towel (tenugui).
1. Sales period and purchase method
General sales period: From June 1 (Wed), 10 AM (JST), 2026
How to purchase: Online, through the Ticket Pia website, and at convenience stores
Online
*Other processing fees may apply.
*Gion Festival Premium Viewing Seats are available through the Ticket Pia website and can be purchased with a credit card only. Tickets for these seats are electronic.
At convenience stores
Seven-Eleven:
P code: 660-714 (Early Festival) / 660-720 (Latter Festival)
*Other processing fees may apply.
*A maximum of 9 tickets can be purchased at one time. If you wish to purchase 10 or more tickets, please complete the purchase process in two or more separate transactions. In this case, your seats may be separated.
2. Number of seats (Oike-dori Street)
Early festival (July 17): approx. 10,000 seats (from Kawaramachi-dori street to Shinmachi-dori street)
Latter festival (July 24): approx. 4,000 seats
- Kyoto City Hall area (Kawaramachi-dori Street to Teramachi-dori Street): approx. 2,000 seats
- Karasuma Oike area (Karasuma-dori Street to Takakura-dori Street): approx. 2,000 seats
*The number of seats for sale may change depending on the number of tickets sold.
Early Festival Procession seats
Latter Festival Procession seats
3. Route of the float procession
Early Festival procession (July 17)
Click here or on the image to enlarge it
Latter Festival procession (July 24)
4. Price
All seats are reserved and come with the official guidebook and hand towel. The price shown in the table below includes tax.
Early Festival (July 17)
| Seating type | Price | Remarks |
| General seating (front row) | 8,000 yen | |
| General seating (second row onwards) | 6,000 yen | |
| Gion Matsuri Festival Premium Seat (front row) | 125,000 yen | ・Located in front of Kyoto City Hall ・Includes live commentary in English or Japanese by a specialist narrator ・See below for details |
| Gion Matsuri Festival Premium Seating (second row onwards) | 155,000 yen | ・Located in front of Kyoto City Hall ・Includes live commentary in English or Japanese by a specialist narrator ・See below for details |
Latter Festival (July 24)
| Seating type | Price | Remarks |
| General seating (front row) | 8,000 yen | |
| General seating (second row onwards) | 6,000 yen | |
| Special learning seating (front row) | 14,500 yen | ・Located in front of Kyoto City Hall ・Includes live commentary in English or Japanese by a specialist narrator |
| Special learning seating (second row onwards) | 12,500 yen | ・Located in front of Kyoto City Hall ・Includes live commentary in English or Japanese by a specialist narrator |
*You must bring your own internet-connected smartphone or tablet, as well as headphones, to be able to listen to the live commentary. No app download or account registration is necessary, the commentary will be available through a web browser. The estimated date usage is equivalent to approx. 30-60 seconds of a YouTube video.
About the "Gion Matsuri Festival Premium Seating"
View from the Premium Seats
Exclusive seating located at the south of Kawaramachi-Oike intersection.
Details of offered services:
For every row
・Half of the east side of the front row (near Kawaramachi-dori street) is freely available for use as space for photography and viewing.
・Beverages (water, tea, juice) will be provided. *Alcoholic beverages will not be served.
・Live guided commentary of the Gion Matsuri Festival and Yamahoko Procession will be provided in Japanese and English.
・A buffet will be served in Hotel Okura’s 4th floor banquet hall “Gyoun,” from 12 PM to 2 PM.
Front row
・12 reserved seats with chairs and desks will be installed in the west half of the front row (near Teramachi-dori Street).
・No sunshade, cushions or drink holders will be available.
Second and third row
・Special Japanese-style seating with zaisu chairs and cushions will be set up for 60 visitors.
・The second and third rows are raised so that even the spectators seated in the back rows can enjoy the full view.
・Parasols will be installed, providing protection from the sun.
*Earphones will not be provided on-site, so please make sure to bring your own, alongside an internet-connected smartphone or tablet.
5. Advisory notes
- The Yamahoko Junko Procession will be held rain or shine. No refunds of any kind will be provided, except in the event that the procession is cancelled. Refunds will only be processed at the place of purchase. Ticket issuance fees and delivery charges related to payment transactions are non-refundable.
- Make sure to bring your smartphone or other internet-connected device and headphones. If you don’t, you will not be able to listen to the live commentary. (*For spectators watching from Special Learning Seats or Premium Viewing Seats)
- We recommend using hats, etc. to shield yourself from the heat.
- The use of parasols, umbrellas, and tripods will not be allowed in the viewing seats, as it may block the view of other spectators.
- Please bring a raincoat in case it begins to rain during the event.
- Taking flash photography, bringing pets and smoking are prohibited.
- Please follow the instructions of the staff. Failure to comply will result in forced removal from the premises. In such cases, there will be no refund of tickets or any other compensation.
- Please note that Kyoto City Tourism Association cannot accept any responsibility for damages that occur within the seating area.
- In case of natural disasters, the festival’s schedule and route may be changed or canceled.
- Please refrain from bringing in or drinking alcoholic beverages during the event.
- Please take your garbage home with you.
- Please make sure not to lean on steps or railing and to not reach or try to lean over the railing with your body or mobile devices.
6. Commemorative goods
1. Official guidebook (for all seats)
An official guidebook introducing the Gion Matsuri Yamahoko Junko (float procession) in Japanese and English, that will be distributed to all spectator seats. (Size B5, 27 pages)
(conceptual image)
2. Official guidebook (for premium seats)
An official, in-depth guidebook introducing the Gion Matsuri Yamahoko Junko (float procession) in Japanese, Traditional Chinese and English, that will be distributed at Premium Seats. (Size A5, 92 pages)
(conceptual image)
3. Japanese decorative towel (tenugui)
Traditional Japanese decorative towels depicting the artwork of “Kyoto Font,” a team of Kyoto-based artists with disabilities and a welfare facility cooperating with a design team from Takara Supply Communications Co., Ltd. They will be distributed to all spectators.
Japanese decorative towel
Kyoto Font’s official website (available in Japanese only)
7. Further information
Season ＆ Festivals / Gion Matsuri Festival
Gion Matsuri Festival
