KYOTO--Tourism officials here are offering premium seats for 400,000 yen ($2,870) each that provide an up-close view of the traditional Gion Festival’s massive float parade on July 17.

In Kyoto, tourists flock to the picturesque Gion district to glimpse Geisha clip-clopping along cobbled streets. It's one of the most photographed parts of the ancient capital. But now the people ...