Jul 18 (NHK) - In Japan's ancient capital Kyoto, spectators braved sweltering heat to watch a series of colorfully decorated floats at the annual Gion festival on Tuesday.
A total of 23 large floats took part in the parade through the western Japan city in a highlight of the centuries-old summer festival.
The parade began in the morning. A child in traditional costume on the lead float used a sword to cut the sacred rope stretched across the usually busy street.
Spectators applauded as heavy floats negotiated right angle turns at intersections, with bamboo sticks laid beneath the wheels and water sprayed on them.
By morning, the mercury had risen to nearly 35 degrees Celsius. Local temperatures topped 38 degrees over the long weekend.
A woman in her 60s from Kanagawa Prefecture, near Tokyo, said she enjoyed the spectacle despite the hot weather.
Another 10 floats will parade on July 24th.
