Gion Festival 2026: The Night the Deities Return to Yasaka Shrine | Kankō-sai Mikoshi Procession Highlights

We recorded about 40 minutes of the Kankō-sai return procession, part of the later phase of Kyoto’s Gion Festival, around Yasaka Shrine.

During Kankō-sai, the deities transferred from Yasaka Shrine to the Shijō Otabisho during the July 17 Shinkō-sai return to Yasaka Shrine with three mikoshi portable shrines.

The video follows the mikoshi as they move through Kyoto at night, appear in front of Yasaka Shrine and enter the shrine grounds amid the powerful chants of the bearers.

See the intersection packed with spectators, mikoshi glowing under lantern light and chants echoing through the precincts. This is a different kind of excitement from the famous yamahoko float procession, captured with the original sound and atmosphere.
0:00 Gion Festival Kankō-sai highlights
1:16 Kankō-sai return procession
4:30 Sacred child riding a horse
4:59 Mikoshi procession from Kawaramachi toward Yasaka Shrine — first mikoshi, Naka-goza
5:17 Naka-goza chants: “Hoito, Hoito”
6:22 Sashimawashi spinning of the mikoshi in front of Yasaka Shrine
8:32 Mikoshi heading toward Yasaka Shrine
8:58 Second mikoshi, Higashi-goza
9:14 Yasaka Shrine priest leading on horseback
9:40 Higashi-goza chants: “Hoito, Hoito”
10:26 Higashi-goza sashimawashi spin
13:05 Kankō-sai at Yasaka Shrine
13:30 First mikoshi, Naka-goza
17:58 Naka-goza raised onto the dance stage
20:45 Second mikoshi, Higashi-goza, enters the shrine grounds
38:03 Higashi-goza raised onto the dance stage

Filmed scenes
・Mikoshi procession through Kyoto at night
・Mikoshi arriving in front of Yasaka Shrine
・Powerful chants from the bearers
・Mikoshi illuminated by lanterns
・Entry into the Yasaka Shrine precincts
・The distinctive nighttime energy of Kankō-sai

This is a long-form video of about 40 minutes. Enjoy not only the movement of the mikoshi, but also the chants and atmosphere along the route.

Please subscribe and give the video a like.
#GionFestival
#KankoSai
#YasakaShrine
【Popular videos】
■What can you see at GREEN×EXPO 2027?
https://youtu.be/nnfCjR4aeXk?si=j6etme7cwtm8npzd
■JUNGLIA Okinawa dinosaur attack attraction, including special footage from areas where general filming is prohibited
https://youtu.be/9plPdKL6Q0w?si=yPFBODsX5NqnlUVE
■Final day of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai: Myaku-Myaku’s thank-you message, special drone show and fireworks
https://youtu.be/qmmU28KPvVk?si=jIUGfU_yUcIlgCxK
■Saudi Arabia National Day
https://youtu.be/B8kVdt_03jE?si=OHu1X_IkVF60EKU6
■Why Riyadh Expo 2030 matters: carrying the spirit of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai to Saudi Arabia
https://youtu.be/Oy3jj7zmoFc?si=sgwtnmvX-KPI7oSC
■New Kyoto attraction: teamLab Kyoto, including specially permitted footage
https://youtu.be/_pVI896Wmm4?si=yehol_EzsRH9y0bh
■Tohoku Kizuna Festival, Expo edition
https://youtu.be/0iMLPyniarI?si=JOYAI28TMbvIB53d
■HAPPYELL Theme Park Media
■HAPPYELL Expo information
https://happyell.co.jp/osaka-worldexpo
■USJ crowd forecast
■Kansai outings and event information