Kyoto was the capital of Japan for a long time.

The historical accumulation over the long years has preserved an extremely rich number of places of interest in Kyoto. Among them, those that are spectacular and beautiful and are said to be shrines have become very popular attractions for overseas tourists.

Today’s Japanese festival I would like to introduce is the “Aoi Matsuri” held at Shimogamo Shrine and Kamigamo Shrine in Kyoto. It is one of the famous “Three Major Festivals in Kyoto” and its classical elegance is impressive.

Every year on May 15th, the "Aoi Festival" is held at the Shimogamo Shrine in Shimogamo Izumikawa Town, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City and the Kamigamo Shrine in Kamigamo Motoyama, Kita Ward.

The "Aoi Matsuri" is one of the famous "Three Major Festivals of Kyoto". It is a classical and elegant festival. During the event, the luxurious queues from a thousand years ago reappear in Kyoto, making people feel like going back to the past era.

During the Aoi Festival, a procession of 500 people dressed in gorgeous ancient clothes and makeup walked through the main streets of Kyoto.

It is precisely because the clothes of the parade crowd, and even the bodies of the cows and horses are decorated with sunflower leaves, that this festival is called "Kwai Festival".

This gorgeous procession recreates the scene of the procession of officials delivering the emperor's edicts and offerings to the Minagamo and Kamigamo shrines.

The highest-ranking official in the team is the emissary (the messenger) with a golden sword tied to his waist and riding a horse, followed closely by the offerings.

The most eye-catching thing in the team is undoubtedly the women's team, which is mainly composed of agents serving the queen. The heroine is selected from unmarried women living in Kyoto.

The final winner is an honor, but it is also a bit tiring, because as the heroine, she will wear the ancient palace formal dress "Twelve Singles", which means wearing 12 kimonos one by one on her body.

The weight of the clothes alone reaches 30 kilograms.

In Japanese classical literature, the so-called "matsuri" actually refers to the "Aoi Matsuri".

The procession that faithfully inherits the ancient tradition at the "Aoi Matsuri" makes people feel as if they have returned to the 10th century AD.

The parade started around 10:30 from the Kyoto Imperial Palace (Kyoto Gyoen Garden, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto City) where the emperor worked and lived until 1869, passed Shimogamo Shrine, and arrived at Kamigamo Shrine around 15:30.

After arriving at the shrine, live performances such as dancing and galloping on horseback will begin.

Related reading: Kyoto Imperial Palace, Shimogamo Shrine and Kamigamo Shrine. Kyoto Imperial Palace is located in the northwest corner of Kyoto Gyoen in Kamigyo District, Kyoto City. It was the administrative center of Japan during the Heian period.

From the time Nara moved the capital in 781 AD to the Meiji Restoration in 1074, it has been the residence of successive emperors, and later became the emperor's palace.

The garden that once surrounded the main hall has now become the Kyoto Gyoen Garden, a park open to the public, and a spacious and green leisure space for citizens.

Shimogamo Shrine Shimogamo Shrine, officially known as Kamo Gozu Shrine, was built in the 8th century AD. It is one of the world historical heritages and one of the oldest shrines in Kyoto, Japan.

Shimogamo Shrine was originally a clan shrine of the Kamo clan, a wealthy family in ancient Japan. After the capital was moved safely, Shimogamo Shrine became the guardian shrine of the capital.

Kamigamo Shrine Kamigamo Shrine, also known as Kamo Betsu Thunder Shrine, was built in 678 AD. Because it is located on the upper reaches of the Kamo River, it is called Kamigamo Shrine and enshrines the great God of Kamo Betsu Thunder.

Including the mountain behind the shrine, Kamigamo Shrine has a total area of ??664,000 square meters, of which 34 shrine halls are national cultural relics.

This shrine, listed on the World Cultural Heritage List, is one of the places where most traditional sacred activities are held in Japan.