Aoi Matsuri

The Aoi Matsuri (葵祭), one of Kyoto’s three most prestigious festivals alongside Gion Matsuri and Jidai Matsuri, offers a spectacular glimpse into Japan’s ancient courtly traditions. Held annually on May 15, the festival’s centerpiece is an elegant parade featuring over 500 participants dressed in meticulously recreated Heian Period aristocratic attire. The procession makes its way from the Kyoto Imperial Palace to the Kamo Shrines — Shimogamo Shrine and Kamigamo Shrine — along a historically significant route. Named after the hollyhock (Aoi) leaves worn as decorations on costumes, ox carts, and horses, the festival dates back to the 7th century and originated as a ritual to appease the deities of the Kamo Shrines, seeking protection from natural disasters and securing good harvests.

Throughout the event, spectators can admire an exquisite display of tradition, including nobles in colorful silk robes, men on horseback, elaborately adorned ox-drawn carts, giant floral arrangements, and the Saio — a young, unmarried woman of noble descent who serves as the festival’s high priestess. The procession begins at 10:30 AM at the Imperial Palace, moves through Shimogamo Shrine around midday, and concludes at Kamigamo Shrine around 3:30 PM. For the best views, visitors are encouraged to book reserved seating at key locations such as the Kyoto Imperial Palace or the Kamo Shrines. However, for those who prefer a more relaxed experience, plenty of quieter spots can be found along the route where smaller crowds gather.