Festivals & Holidays

Jidai Matsuri

Jidai Matsuri is a splendid annual festival of the Heian Jingu Shrine and it well deserves its renown as one of the three biggest fetes in Kyoto. The other two are Aoi Matsuri on the 15th of May and Gion Matsuri on the 17th of July.

Kyoto was the capital of Japan from 794 to 1868 A.D. You will find the main feature of the Jidai Matsuri in the unique and magnificent procession, consisting of more than 2,000 participants who are clad in costumes representing the important historical epochs during which Kyoto was the capital of Japan.

This procession can be seen at any place on the street along its route, especially on Marutamachi-dori, Karasuma-dori, or Sanjo-dori where reserved seats are not set up.

Origin:

In 1895 Kyoto City celebrated the 1,100th anniversary of the founding of the capital "Heian Kyo" in this area. The Heian Jingu Shrine was then founded in memory of this event, modeled after the administration hall at the Imperial Palace built in 794 A.D. and constructed on a reduced scale of five-eighths of the original. Since then the Jidai Matsuri has been observed annually on October 22 as the memorial day of moving the capital to Kyoto.

The order of the procession:

  1. The Meiji Restoration (1868)
    1. Royal Army in the Meiji Restoration
    2. The patriots (1860)

  2. Edo Period (1615-1867)
    1. The Shogun Tokugawa's deputy pays a courtesy call to the Emperor.
    2. Outstanding ladies of the Edo Period
      Kazuno-Miya (Princess Kazu)
      Rengetsu-ni (Nun poetess)
      Madame Kuranosuke Nakamura
      Madame Kaji and Madame Gyokuran
      Yoshino Tayu (Lady entertainer of high rank)
      Izumo-no-Okuni (Kabuki founder)

  3. Azuchi-Momoyama Period (1573-1614)
    1. General Toyotomi Hideyori pays a courtesy call to the Emperor.
    2. Lord Oda Nobunaga's entry into Kyoto.

  4. Muromachi Period (1539-1572)
    1. The triumphant entry of General Kusunoki Masashige into Kyoto.

  5. Ladies in the Medieval Ages (Kamakura and Muromachi Periods)
    1. Ohara-me (Women who have lived in the northeast suburb of Kyoto).
    2. Katsura-me (Women who used to live in the western suburb of Kyoto).
    3. Yodo-Gimi ("Lady Yodo", wife of Toyotomi Hideyoshi).
    4. Madame Fujiwara Tameie (Wife of a very high ranking lord who lived in Kyoto).
    5. Shizuka-gozen ("Lady Shizuka", lady of General Minamoto Yoshitsune, the tragic hero).

  6. Kamakura Period (1186-1292)
    1. The Comoany of Yabusame Archers.

  7. Fujiwara Period (897-1185)
    1. Court Nobles going to the Imperial Palace for work.

  8. Ladies in the Heian Period (794-1185)
    1. Wake-no-Hiromushi
    2. Ono-no-Komachi
    3. Daughter of Kino Tsurayuki
    4. Murasaki-Shikibu and Sei-Shonagon
    5. Tokiwa-Gozen ("Lady Tokiwa", wife of a general of the Genji force).
    6. Yokobue (a court lady, who fell in love with a warrior of the Imperial Palace).
    7. Tomoe-Gezen ("Lady Tomoe").

  9. Enrayku Period (782-805)
    1. The processionof warriors.
    2. The procession of Court Nobles.

  10. The Company of the Offerings to the Gods

  11. Zen-Retsu (Prior Procession to the sacred carriage)

  12. Shinko-Retsu (Procession to the sacred carriage)

  13. Hanagyoretsu (Procession of women carrying flowers)

  14. Kyusen-gumi (The Company of Archers)