Izanagi (伊弉諾尊), the 'Father of Japan', sits atop the roof, while the gods Amaterasu and Ame-no-Tajikarao (手力男命 - the god that forced open the door of the heavenly cave) sit within.

Although called a yama, from about 1570 the float grew into the shape of the larger hoko.

#Iwatoyama #GionMatsuri

Musicians on the upper floor of the Iwato-yama float.

A moody sky above the Iwato-yama float.

The Iwato-yama float.

At the corner (as the float's have no turning mechanism) the floats are dragged in the right direction across wet slivers of bamboo.

32) IWATO-YAMA (岩戸山)🪨

Iwato-yama, the 'Rock Door Float, celebrates 'Kuniumi' (国産み), the creation of Japan.
It also tells the story of the sun goddess Amaterasu-Ōmikami (天照大御神) hiding away in the Heavenly Cave (天の岩戸 'Ama-no-Iwato'), plunging the world into dark.

#Iwatoyama #岩戸山 #Amaterasu