Visitors enjoy the Gion Festival "Yoiyoiyoiyama" lined with "Komagata Chochin" (Eastward view from Shijo-dori Shinmachi Higashi-iru, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto)

"Yoiyoiyoiyama," or the three nights before the Gion Festival's "Yamahoko Junko" procession, came around on July 14. Under the increasing heat and humidity after the evening rain stopped, visitors flocked to the Yamahoko communities in central Kyoto City, enchanted by the lights of the "Komagata Chochin" paper lanterns and the "Kon Chiki Chin" melody of Gion-bayashi music.

At 6:00 p.m., Karasuma-dori and Shijo-dori Streets were turned into a "Pedestrian Paradise," or a traffic-free zone. Streets running east-west, including Takoyakusi-dori and Nishikikoji Streets, became even more packed as people who rushed in from north-south running streets, including Karasuma-dori, Muromachi-dori and Shinmachi-dori Streets.

Crowds of people flowed through the Yamahoko communities partaking in various activities, such as climbing onto the floats, enjoying the "Kaishokazari" where gorgeous drape decorations can be seen close up at each community hall, and looking at treasured items unique to the "Byobu Matsuri" through lattice doors.

This day, it rained on and off until the evening. It was still drizzling when the Pedestrian Paradise started, but the weather improved after that. According to the Kyoto Prefectural Police announcement, the turnout by 11:00 p.m. was approximately 210,000 people, 40,000 less than last year.