Near the bottom end of street there is place called Otabisho, where Omikoshi(portable shrine) rests at the end of festival.
We arrived before the festival starts, so they were showing movie of previous festival at Otabisho.
We decided to walk up the street.
There were already fires beside the houses and some house were displaying traditional items inherit from theri uncestor like this.
And then we got to massive crowd.
This is near Yuki Shrine where the torches gather at the climax of festival. Many people try to stay here to keep there good position to see the festival even tho polce annoucing everyone to move there were huge congestion.
According to festival guide, we can not see the festival at one point but have to keep moving because there are so many people in very small suburb. But seems like no one read the information or hear the announcement...
After few minute we got out of the crowed also the festival started.
Firstly chidrens carry smaller torches and march down the street.
We got to Kurama Tujii the Tsukudani (food boiled down in sweetened soy) shop near Kurama Onsen(hot spring)
http://www.kuramatsujii.jp/store.html (japanese page)
In front of their shop there are large Torch. People in front of shop told us that it might take while the torches get lit and carried so we decided to have something to eat and tourist there told me there are food at Kurama Onsen.
When we came back they were about to carry the torch.
There were many torches carryed by men calling out chaunts all over the street and it was making the atomosphere of the suburb very energetic.
We followed the parade down to the Yuki shrine.
At the stone stairs, torches starts to gather.
They put the torches upright and keep it until they can not hold due to the flame gets too colose to them.
They let go torches to the end of steps and the timing they do that is incredible.
Until the last torche go down, they keep stay at the steps and saying chaunts.
Then they carry Omikoshi (Portable Shrine) and parade the street again.
After all torches gone, some people starts to get back. It is because we have to take same crowded train back.
We both had things to do in next morning so we decided to go too.
There were already ques and we had to wait about 1hr to get to the train.
It was very uniique experience and worth the wait and getting through the crowd.
I reccomend everyone to go to the festival if you are in Kyoto on 22nd of October.