Kyoto is enjoying the Gion Matsuri from July 1: festival ends on July 31. The highlight of the festival is "Yamahoko-junko" which takes place on the 17th of July. It is the procession of colorful floats through downtown Kyoto.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi44fnK-OtKb515UphHzl2rs5s-b_byZgDQFqSYKw5BifwpNi97SGSMvrSISXxz69Olp0Z4jt-eHfqZPACWhTWEiddKQRqLqbKoDBZcmzLg9ibfXAKtL24CIz6n6P94uHRtG8SB2hMxKTIP/s400/attach.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjctYrDEWoVgWgIhngv26WzYQCjY9y_Yv16nn3260v0rfVUwXwlUB7eMYcQb0nto9r-RWNJC93LlIfYv1WMcBidR7HZtP2TrEmttLEpLW2JtYKi4NaAM_lz7PYzZupSX4NoUmHpsHQ9G8PW/s400/attach-1.jpg)
Groups of people started to build Yamahoko today. A total of 32 Yamahoko floats are presented in the festival. The 25 meter tall, 10 ton floats are made from wood and rope without using a single nail or piece of iron. (Yamahoko is the holy place for devine spirits.)