Gion Matsuri 2008 -- Yoiyama

Yoiyama is the night before the grand parade. The night before that is Yoiyoiyama, and the night before that is Yoiyoiyoiyama. On all three of them the floats stand in the streets of Gion district, already assembled. The streets are closed for traffic and instead filled people and with stands for food.

Also the restaurants along Kamogawa river are crowded.

It is possible to enter some of the floats; if you do not mind standing in a queue for a while and getting quite intimate with the other visitors...

Go on to see the parade.