Gion Festival culminates with float parade

Tens of thousands of spectators have packed the streets of Japan's ancient capital, Kyoto, to watch a parade of colorfully decorated floats in the annual Gion Festival.Ten large floats took part in the second parade, which started on Friday, in the month-long traditional festival.

The theme of one float is En no Gyoja, the legendary founder of Shugendo mountain asceticism. A Shugendo monk riding on the float blew a conch shell.Another float, called Ohfunehoko, was rebuilt last year after the original was burned down during political upheaval 150 years ago. Cheers rose from the spectators when the wooden float was tugged round at crossings with the help of armfuls of bamboo poles placed under the fixed wheels.