Japan's Gion Matsuri: A Festival Rooted in Tradition and Tension The streets of Kyoto come alive every summer as the Gion Matsuri festival unfolds, its towering floats and vibrant parades drawing in crowds from around the world.
The festival has its roots in a 1,000 year old ritual aimed at warding off epidemics and appeasing spirits believed to cause disease.
At its heart is Kyoto's Yasaka Shrine, a Shinto site whose principal deity has long been revered as a protector against calamities.