The Gion festival has two parts, the Sakimatsuri and the Atomatsuri. The Atomatsuri is held on July 24th, and I highly recommend it as it offers a quiet (pre-tourist) Kyoto-like atmosphere.

The impression that I got from the Sakimatsuri was that it was packed with tourists, all scrambling over each other, and I felt like I was drowning in the mayhem.

The reason for this is that the 17^th of July was chosen as the date to commemorate the day when Noah’s ark landed on Mount Ararat.

It makes sense then that the Funahoko (boat float) is the last float in the Hoko parade.

The Atomatsuri festival seems as if people who missed the ark are enjoying themselves at their leisure.

Finally, the “God’s Bento” made by the mikoshi carriers was simple and very appreciated.

The mark left by the pickled plum on the bamboo skin represents the moon, the rice represents the flow of the river, the sesame seeds represent small pebbles, the picked radish represents the dry earth, and the pickled plum represents the sun.

That bento made me realize that luxury rusts the mind and body.

I’d like to express my sincere gratitude to my friend Ryo-chan for inviting me to this festival.