Jidai Matsuri

The Jidai Matsuri (時代祭), held every year on October 22, is a grand celebration of Kyoto’s rich history and cultural legacy. The festival’s highlight is a magnificent historical parade that travels from Kyoto Imperial Palace to Heian Shrine. Over 2,000 participants dress in meticulously recreated costumes from various periods of Japanese history, portraying famous historical figures, nobles, warriors, and commoners. Spanning approximately two hours, the procession covers nearly 1,100 years of history, starting from the Meiji Restoration and moving backward through eras such as Edo, Muromachi, and the Heian Period. As one of Kyoto’s three major festivals — along with Gion Matsuri and Aoi Matsuri — Jidai Matsuri offers visitors a vivid, living timeline of the city’s illustrious past.

Established in 1895 to commemorate Kyoto’s cultural significance following the relocation of the capital to Tokyo, the Jidai Matsuri is carefully organized into sections representing different historical periods, military leaders, and important historical moments. Spectators can witness samurai of the Muromachi Period, elegant court nobles of the Heian Period, Edo Period officials, and prominent figures like Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The parade concludes with two sacred mikoshi carrying the spirits of Emperors Kammu and Komei, symbolizing Kyoto’s imperial roots. Many spectators gather along the route, especially near the Imperial Palace and Heian Shrine, where both free and reserved seating options are available for optimal viewing.