Aoi Matsuri

Aoi Matsuri (festival), or Kamo Matsuri is one of Kyoto’s oldest festivals. Held on May 15, this event features a parade of over 500 participants dressed in full Heian-period (794–1185) court attire. The procession begins at the Kyoto Imperial Palace and winds its way through the city to Shimogamo Shrine, before concluding at Kamigamo Shrine.

The festival is named after the aoi (hollyhock) leaves that decorate the participants, carriages and oxen. Held at the height of spring, it symbolizes harmony between people, nature and the divine. This festival was first performed as a ritual offering to appease the deities of the Kamo Shrines during times of natural disaster. Over time, the festival evolved into an imperial event. Today, it remains a beautifully preserved reenactment of ancient rites deeply rooted in Kyoto’s cultural and religious traditions.

Festival Highlights

Photo by: PIXTA/ terkey The parade begins at the Kyoto Imperial Palace and has two parts.

The parade begins at 10:30 a.m. at the Kyoto Imperial Palace and has two parts: the Imperial Envoy’s Procession and the Saio-dai Procession. The imperial parade includes warriors, officials and musicians in traditional roles like the kado-no-osa (judiciary officer), eji (imperial guards) and goheibitsu (attendants carrying sacred items). Decorated ox-drawn carriages (gissha) creak slowly down Kyoto’s streets, evoking the elegance and refinement of Heian-period court life.

The second half of the parade is led by the Saio-dai, a young woman chosen to serve as the high priestess of the Kamo Shrines. In the past, this role was filled by an imperial princess and today’s Saio-dai still takes part in traditional purification rites before the event. She is carried in palanquin, accompanied by court ladies (myobu), priestesses (munanori-onna) and men bearing vibrant flower umbrellas (furyu-gasa).

Festival Activities

Photo by: PIXTA/ しまじろう It’s a vivid and immersive glimpse into Japan’s aristocratic past.

Visitors can enjoy a full day of traditional pageantry, bringing the world of the Heian court to life. Each part of the parade mirrors ancient imperial ceremonies, with roles and rituals passed down for over a thousand years. From the vibrant costumes and flower-covered parasols, it’s a vivid and immersive glimpse into Japan’s aristocratic past.

Both Shimogamo Shrine and Kamigamo Shrine host additional rituals that continue the festival’s spiritual focus. Visitors can witness court music, sacred dances and formal offerings performed in front of the deities. These ceremonies offer a rare glimpse into ancient Shinto practices once central to Kyoto’s imperial life.

In the days leading up to May 15, several pre-festival activities are also open to the public. Highlights include yabusame (horseback archery) and the Saio-dai’s purification rituals.