Against the backdrop of serious global environmental problems, satellite imagery for the analysis and monitoring of land transformation is attracting attention. Especially in developing countries where data are scarce, the analysis of satellite image data using spatial information technology is gaining prominence as a powerful tool for understanding changes in urban environments. Geographers are expected to deepen empirical research by creating versatile geospatial data, developing sophisticated spatial analysis functions, constructing new methodologies, and applying them to regional geography and area studies. In the era of big data utilization, the development of spatial information technology, which enables instant visualization and simultaneous analysis of vast amounts of geospatial information, has forced geographers to reconsider research methods and conventional concepts of time and space. It has prompted a shift from aggregative to nonaggregative thinking, from spatial to spatiotemporal analysis, from batch to real-time processing, from model-driven to data-driven forecasting, and from hypothesis testing to hypothesis building.

This paper focuses on Kyoto’s modern transition period. It reconsiders the relationship between cities and festivals based on the concept of social space. We clarify the factors that have allowed traditional festivals to survive, especially in the context of rapidly changing urban spaces.

In the 1970s, cultural anthropologists explored the characteristics of cities by explaining the events within each festival and the roles of groups. This established festival studies as a research genre, but subsequent studies have not been sufficiently successful in demonstrating the relationships between cities and festivals. On the other hand, geographers have empirically grasped the changes in spatial and social structures within cities which affect festivals. We call this geographic approach “city-festival study.” However, even with this approach, it is not clear that the factors behind the dynamic relationships between cities and festivals have been fully explained. In particular, many previous studies emphasized the functions of festivals in forming and reorganizing urban communalities, including the structures of urban spaces which affect festivals and the functions of groups that create, maintain, and innovate them. However, the consideration of these factors is insufficient. It is effective to use the concept of social space to reconsider the relationships between cities and festivals, since that can clarify the process of festival management groups’ reacknowledgment of festival sites (independent social space) while being affected by the changes in urban spaces (objective social space).

During the modern transition period in Kyoto, in addition to the reconstruction from the great fire that occurred at the end of the Edo period, there were rapid changes in the urban space. These include the reorganization of district groups and the renewal of the ownership of mansion blocks. In response, the districts sponsoring Yamahoko floats reacknowledged the festival site while maintaining the independence of the festival management group. As a result, a subsidy system for continuing the Yamahoko float parade by district residents was established. Moreover, the standards for securing the various resources necessary for reconstruction of Yamahoko floats after the great fire were revised, which allowed the Yamahoko float ceremony to survive.

As mentioned above, by introducing the concept of social space into the study of the relationship between cities and festivals, we were able to understand the process of reacknowledgment of festival sites, mainly by festival management groups. That process is a function of the city that creates a place to generate, maintain, and innovate local culture. It also shows the dynamic relationship between cities and festivals. The experience of celebrating festivals then accumulates in urban spaces and creates the characteristics and atmosphere of cities.