Gion festival event draws crowds in Kyoto

A festive spirit filled the ancient Japanese capital of Kyoto on Friday, one day before a parade of floats in the time-honored Gion summer festival.

The evening event, known as Yoiyama, saw a total of 32 decorative floats put on display along specially pedestrianized streets in the center of Kyoto.

Sightseers, including tourists and local families alike, assembled to see the floats, with police saying about 70,000 people packed the streets for the event.

The floats will pass through the ancient city in a parade called Yamahoko-junko on Saturday, the highlight of the Gion festival.