Jidai Matsuri (Festival of the Ages) was established in 1895 to celebrate the 1,100th anniversary of Kyoto's founding and is one of the city's three major festivals. The procession departs from the Imperial Palace and arrives at Heian Shrine, with more than 2,000 participants wearing meticulously researched period costumes representing 20 distinct historical eras spanning 1,200 years. Each section of the parade is arranged in reverse chronological order, moving from the Meiji Restoration back through to the Enryaku period of the 8th century. The costumes and props are designated important cultural properties maintained by Heian Shrine.
- Type
- Festival
- Category
- Matsuri
- Season
- Autumn
- Month
- October 22
- Region
- Kansai
- Prefecture
- Kyoto
- City
- Kyoto
Highlights
- ◆2,000+ participants in 20 historically accurate period costumes
- ◆Procession spans 1,200 years of Kyoto history in reverse chronological order
- ◆Route from the Kyoto Imperial Palace to Heian Shrine
- ◆Costumes designated as important cultural properties of Japan
- ◆One of Kyoto's three great festivals alongside Gion and Aoi Matsuri