Ryokan Motonago may have the best location of any in the city, a short distance from the busy thoroughfares of Gion.

BBC: Mini guide to Kyoto, Japan

On a recent trip, I took a summer evening stroll through the neighbourhoods of Gion and Higashiyama, nestled in eastern Kyoto between the Kamo River and Higashiyama mountains.

BBC: Where to find Kyoto��s glow

The festival is held by the Yasaka Shrine in the neighbourhood of Gion and the thirty-two floats are built by the residents of the city's self-governing districts, who have transmitted the tradition for many years.

UNESCO: Culture

On July 17 every year, the Gion Festival in Kyoto in central Japan culminates in a grand procession of yamahoko, floats known as 'moving museums' because of their elaborate decoration with tapestries and wooden and metal ornaments.

UNESCO: Culture