Gorgeously decorated floats have paraded through Japan's ancient capital of Kyoto as part of its annual Gion Festival.

The summer festival reportedly started more than 1,000 years ago to pray for the end of a plague.

The parade of 23 floats -- a festival highlight -- kicked off at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday. A child dressed in a traditional costume on the lead float used a sword to cut a sacred straw rope stretched across a main street in central Kyoto.

Spectators lining the streets applauded when the floats, aided by wet bamboo sticks laid below their wheels, negotiated right-angle turns at intersections.

Wheel damage forced one of the floats to drop out halfway through.

Police say around 38,000 people had gathered to watch the procession as of 9:30 a.m.

A visitor from Hyogo Prefecture says getting a glimpse of the parade was not easy due to the huge crowd, but noted that the solemn atmosphere was quite impressive.