Date:
May 15*In case of rain, it will be postponed until the next day.
Places:
Route of the Procession:
Starts from Kyoto Imperial Palace at 10:30 a.m. - Arrives in Shimogamo Shrine at 11:40 a.m.Starts from Shimogamo Shrine 2:20 p.m.- Arrives in Kamigamo Shrine at 3:30 p.m.
Map
Information:
Kyoto City Tourist Association Aoi Matsuri Information (Japanese version)Phone: 075-752-0227
More:
Aoi Matsuri is one of three the greatest festivals in Kyoto. Other two festivals are Jidai Matsuri and Gion Matsuri.
The origin of Aoi Matsuri Festival is said to be the ritual to pray for good harvests held in 567.
The festival procession is the reproduction of the imperial procession in Heian era (794 -1185). About 500 people in Japanese antient court costumes process from the Kyoto Imperial Palace to the Shimogamo Shrine and to the Kamigamo Shrine.
Aoi means hollyhock leaves. This festival was named Aoi Matsuri because all costumes of participants are decorated with hollyhock leaves.
