ABSTRACT
Much as Kyoto is famous for its palaces, temples, shrines and gardens, and beloved as the kyô-machiya have become in recent years, there is still one heritage item that, in terms of popularity and symbolic significance, surpasses them all, at least for the Kyotoites themselves. This is the Gion matsuri (‘Gion festival’), one of Japan’s ‘three great festivals’ (sandai matsuri) and the undisputed climax of Kyoto’s summer. When Kyotoites are asked what symbolises their city best, another summer rite – the Gozan okuribi, i.e. the five bonfires in the shape of characters and pictures lit in the hills every 16 August – is the only serious contender (see Table 5.1). No other traditional festival in Japan produces nearly as many Internet search hits. There is no doubt the Gion matsuri is an emblem of the city, never far when Kyoto’s identity, special character and allure are to be emphasised. Kyoto townscape questionnaire on things believed to express Kyoto best https://www.niso.org/standards/z39-96/ns/oasis-exchange/table">
Item
n
Per cent
Gion matsuri
166
79.0
Daimonji/Gozan okuribi
148
70.5
Kamogawa
119
56.7
Gosho (Imperial Palace and park)
95
45.2
Machiya
94
44.8
Kyoto University
90
42.9
Kinkakuji (temple)
68
32.4
Nishijin-ori (textiles)
67
31.9
Buddhist temples
65
31.0
Kyô-ryôri (Kyoto cuisine)
61
29.0
Gion
60
28.6
Kiyomizudera (temple)
55
26.2
Aoi matsuri (festival)
53
25.2
Nishiki (food market arcade)
53
25.2
Note
210 informants currently living and/or working in Kyoto responded to the question: ‘From the list below, please select up to 12 things that express Kyoto best’ (Ika no risuto no naka kara, anata ni totte Kyôto o mottomo yoku arawasu mono o 12 inai de erande kudasai).
