Aoi Matsuri dates back over 1,400 years and is considered one of Kyoto's three grand festivals alongside Gion Matsuri and Jidai Matsuri. The procession departs from the Kyoto Imperial Palace and winds 8 km through the city to Shimogamo Shrine and Kamigamo Shrine. Participants dress in authentic Heian-period court costumes adorned with hollyhock (aoi) leaves, creating a breathtaking living tableau of ancient Japan. The festival is said to have originated as a prayer to appease the gods after natural disasters in the 6th century.
- Type
- Festival
- Category
- Matsuri
- Season
- Spring
- Month
- May 15
- Region
- Kansai
- Prefecture
- Kyoto
- City
- Kyoto
Highlights
- ◆500-person Heian imperial court procession
- ◆Route from Kyoto Imperial Palace to Kamigamo Shrine
- ◆Authentic 6th-century courtly costumes and ox-drawn carriages
- ◆Ritual ceremonies at Shimogamo and Kamigamo shrines
- ◆One of Japan's oldest continuously held festivals