So you finally made your way through the crowded streets of Kyoto during the Gion festival and you are before one of those impressive looking Yamaboko floats. You see people handing out a ticket and going up and down from it and you wonder if its some Japanese-only thing or did you need reservations or is it because you don’t speak Japanese or simply… where the heck do they sell the tickets?!
The interesting thing is that not even many Japanese really know how to get into one. Well, at least they can ask when they get there.
But here it goes:
First things first. There are Yamaboko floats that you can get into and some that you can’t. For those that you can actually visit, the ways of getting into also may vary. For some, you just purchase a visitor’s ticket, but for others you have to buy a chimaki (粽 – a Japanese rice cake wrapped in bamboo leaf) in either case we are talking about 300 to 1000 yen. Most likely a traditional orchestra will also be playing during those visit times.
And then, (feminists please cover your eyes) there are some Yamaboko floats that don’t allow women to go into them. Yup! However in those cases women are allowed to visit the 2nd floor of the headquarters for that Yamaboko (the Yamaboko-cho).
The Yamaboko floats that you can get into are:
The Naginata-boko (長刀鉾), the Kikusui-boko (菊水鉾), the Kanko-boko (函谷鉾), the Niwatori-boko (鶏鉾), the Tsuki-hoko (月鉾), the Minamikannon-yama (南観音山), the Hoka-boko (放下鉾), the Funa-boko (船鉾), and the Iwato-yama (岩戸山). However women cannot get into the Naginata-boko and the Hoka-boko, but as mentioned, they can go into the headquarters and also get to see it all from the same height.
And of course, depending on the day or if there is a special ceremony taking place then you might not be able to go up. Here is the complete list of the Yamaboko floats that you can get into, and how to get into:
Naginata-boko (長刀鉾): You buy a chimaki or a souvenir to get up this one (only men).
Kanko-boko (函谷鉾): Buy a chimaki and then pay 500 yen and then you can go up. If you only want the ticket then that’s 1000 yen!
Kikusui-boko (菊水鉾): A chimaki will include a pass.
Niwatori-boko (鶏鉾): Buy a chimaki or a souvenir and you can go up.
Tsuki-hoko (月鉾): Same as above.
Minamikannon-yama (南観音山): Buy a pass to go up.
Hoka-boko (放下鉾): This one’s for free! (the catch here would be: only men).
Funa-boko (船鉾): Buy a pass and up you go.
Iwato-yama (岩戸山): Either buy the ticket or a chimaki.
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