Kyoto celebrates summer with revived Yuragawa Indigo Festival and Nagoshi‑sai concluding Gion Matsuri

The northern part of Kyoto Prefecture hosted the Yuragawa Indigo Festival in Fukuchiyama on August 1‑2, reviving a 600‑year‑old tradition. The event featured the sale of around 400 summer‑use items made with traditional indigo dye, attracting local residents and visitors.

On July 31, the month‑long Gion Matsuri was concluded with the Nagoshi‑sai ceremony at the Yasaka Shrine’s subsidiary Eki‑jinja in Kyoto’s Higashiyama district. About 300 participants gathered to pray for health and safety for the coming year, marking the festival’s traditional end.

Both events highlight Kyoto’s vibrant cultural calendar and its efforts to preserve historic crafts and community rituals during the summer season.