The Jidai Matsuri festival is one of the three major festivals in Kyoto. It started in 1895 when Heian Jingu shrine was constructed on the 1,110-year anniversary of Kyoto's founding. Three religious ceremonies and opulent parades expressing culture, institutions and style of each era are held at the Jidai Matsuri festival. The Jidai Matsuri festival starts on October 15 and the main event parade is held on October 22, which celebrates the day in 794 when Emperor Kanmu founded the Miyako imperial capital in Kyoto.

Two-thousand people participate in the main event parade, the length of which is 2km (1.24miles). The parade is quite spectacular, so that the area along the road from GOSHO Kyoto Imperial Palace to Heian Shrine is overwhelmed with domestic and international visitors. In total, about 20 parades, outfitting costumes of court nobles, SAMURAI warriors, and common people in each era from794 to the modern age, march 5km grandly at a leisurely pace. The parade takes approximately 2.5 hours.

If you visit Kyoto in autumn, we hope you can see this parade, which is said to be the epitome of Japanese history.

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  Two-thousand people participate in the main event parade, the length of which is 2km (1.24miles).

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  Meiji Restoration Soldiers Parade. Meiji Period (1868 to 1912)

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  Japanese Royalty and Women's Parade at Edo Period (1603 to 1868)

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  "KAGO" for Shogun Emperor of the Parade at Edo Period (1603 to 1868)

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  Parade of Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1537 to 1598) meeting with the Ten noh emperor in 1596. Cow carriage was to follow the imperial court style.

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  A SHOHGUN of a general during Muromachi Period, marching with a bow and light armor (1336 to 1573).

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  SAMURAI DAISHOH of leader of a warrior during Kamakura Period (1192 to 1333), parading to the capital with gorgeous armor.

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  KUGYOH of the powerful aristocratic class person during Heian period, wearing an old costume of Japanese Court nobles (794 to 1185).

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  MIKOSHI vehicle for the Emperor. He takes this carriage and see the peaceful security of the town. (1.24miles).

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  Traditional dance and music performance in front of the MIKOSHI vehicle for the Emperor.

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  Children dancing GAGAKU Imperial Palace dance at the Heian period (794 to 1185)

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  Tomoe Gozen, a famous military commander during Heian Period (794 to 1185).