It is one of the three great festivals in Kyoto, along with the Gion Matsuri Festival and the Aoi-matsuri Festival. It is held every year on October 22 at the Heian Jingu Shrine. The festival originated in 1895 as a celebration to commemorate the 1,100th anniversary of the relocation of the capital to Heian-Kyo. The festival's main highlight is a historical customs parade of the times, which introduces the approximately 1,000 years from the Enryaku period (when Heiankyo was built) to the Meiji Restoration period, going back to each period of history.
Approximately 2,000 citizens participate in the two-hour parade. Historical figures are known to everyone, such as Kogoro Katsura and Takamori Saigo, key figures in the Meiji Restoration, and warlord Nobunaga Oda will appear one after another. It is interesting to note the differences in fashion based on elaborate period research, such as Seisho Nagon wearing Juni-hitoe and Murasaki Shikibu wearing Kouchigi.
In addition, the "Muromachi Rakuchu Fuzoku Retsu," which is a reproduction of the traditional dances of the Kyoto merchants, and "Shirakawame (women from Shirakawa selling flowers)" and "Oharame (The Women of Ohara Village)" will also make appearances. The festival will be held the day before on the 21st and the day after on the 23rd.
If you want to take your time, we recommend that you use the paid bleachers.
Highlights
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One of the three major festivals in Kyoto.
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The festival at Heian Jingu Shrine, which began to commemorate the 1,100th anniversary of the relocation of the capital to Heian.
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About 2,000 people participate in this festival and parade through the streets for two hours.
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The highlight of the festival is the Jidai-fuzoku-gyoretsu procession parade(historical costumes parade).
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If you want to take your time, there are seats available for a fee.
