Through the Lens: Kyoto heat fires up Gion Festival crowds

The highlight of Kyoto's Gion Festival, Saki Matsuri, or the first of the grand Yamahoko float processions, was held on July 17.

Twenty-three elaborately decorated floats -- often described as a "moving museum" -- made their way along the main streets of the former Japanese capital, captivating spectators who lined the route.

Around 9 a.m., the lead float, known as Naginata-hoko, set off from the Shijo-Karasuma intersection to the calls of parade staff.

Crowds gathered along the roadside, watching the floats advance to the rhythm of Gion-bayashi, festival music consisting of gong, flute and drum, and capturing the spectacle on smartphones and cameras.

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