 Most viewed - Aoi Matsuri Festival 葵祭 |
Court ladies called uneme. Their kimono have a blue wave design. 釆女1035 views釆女
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Shrine maiden on horseback called Munanori Onna.896 views
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Court ladies called myobu. 命婦846 views
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Court lady called myobu. 命婦775 views
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Shrine maiden on horseback called Munanori Onna. 騎女752 views
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726 views
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The Saio-dai Princess in 2005 was Saito Ayako, a 21-year-old Kyoto native and student at Doshisha Univ. Her 12-layer juni-hitoe kimono weighs 30 kg. 斎王代、齋藤彩子さん(21)584 viewsThe Saio-dai Princess is selected every year in April and a press conference is held to announce who was chosen. She is always a native of Kyoto, single, and in her early 20s. The Saio-dai was first incorporated in the festival in 1956. In 2005, she is the 50th Saio-dai.
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She wears a juni-hitoe kimono and rides in a carriage called Oyoyo. 斎王代、齋藤彩子さん (21)520 views腰輿（およよ）
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Shrine maiden on horseback called Munanori Onna.453 views騎女
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Kawaii!!421 views
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One of Kyoto's Big Three Festivals held on May 15. The Aoi Matsuri's colorful procession of over 500 people in Heian-Period costumes start off at the Kyoto Gosho Imperial Palace and head for the Shimogamo and Kamigamo Shrines. 406 viewsKyoto Gosho Imperial Palace 京都御所: The first ox carriage waits for the procession to start. The ox carriage is called a gissha. 牛車
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The procession basically consists of two columns: The Hon-retsu which includes the procession's highest-ranking official called Chokushi. It consists of men. The second and longer column is the Saio-dai-retsu consisting of women.394 views
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The Saio-dai Retsu column begins. Consists of all women, highlighted by the Saio-dai Princess.384 views
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Saio-dai Princess procession. 斎王代358 views
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Flower umbrella323 views
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Flower umbrella called furyu-gasa. 風流傘301 viewsFlowers are artificial.
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274 views
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High-ranking lady of the court272 views
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Flower umbrella266 viewsThese flower umbrellas are mainly for decorative purposes, to add more color to the procession.
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Line at the bus stop. The buses did not come so frequently. So I just walked back to the nearest subway station.264 views
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The wooden wheels creak like they did centuries ago.260 views
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Ox carriage with plum blossoms dangling from the roof.252 views
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Norijiri horseman leads the procession. 乗尻234 viewsThe procession, called Roto-no-Gi (路頭の儀), is actually one of three rites performed during the festival.
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Shrine maiden on horseback called Munanori Onna. 騎女232 viewsThey escort the Saio-dai Princess.
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Long line for the bus stop.228 views
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斎王代225 views
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Everyone is dressed in Heian-Period (794-1185) costumes.224 views
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Hollyhock (aoi) leaves 葵219 views
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No. 4 official of the old police force and court justice called Kebiishi-no-sakan 検非違使志218 views検非違使志
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The bull was mooing all the time and was very restless.217 viewsDo bulls moo or do they snort? This was making a loud noise.
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Court lady called myobu. 命婦212 views
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Saio-dai Princess riding on a special palanquin called Oyoyo. 斎王代 腰輿（およよ）212 views腰輿（およよ）
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Shrine maiden on horseback called Munanori Onna.211 views騎女
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Norijiri horseman leads the procession. 乗尻211 views
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Saio-dai Princess procession. 斎王代210 views
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All finish209 views
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One of six court dancers called maibito. 舞人208 views
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Over 500 people in the procession walk along the 8-kilometer route.207 viewsThere's a lunch break at around noon at Shimogamo Shrine.
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Shrine maiden on horseback called Munanori Onna. They escort the Saio-dai Princess.205 views騎女
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The procession's highest-ranking official called Chokushi. An Imperial Messenger. The horse is highly decorated. 勅使204 views
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Musician called baiju. There are seven of them wearing the same wardrobe. 陪従203 views
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The Heian Period was when Kyoto was the capital of Japan where the Emperor resided.202 views
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"Heian" comes from "Heian-kyo," the former name of Kyoto city.199 views
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Shrine maiden on horseback called Munanori Onna.199 views騎女
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Ceremony at Shimogamo Shrine. 下鴨神社194 viewsThe public is not allowed to see the ceremony within the shrine.
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No. 3 official of the old police force and court justice called Kebiishi-no-jo 検非違使尉194 views検非違使尉
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Whoa!191 views
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The Saio-dai Princess is the main figure of the procession. She represents the Imperial princess who worked at the Kamo Shrine and served in the Aoi Festival during the Heian Period.190 views腰輿（およよ）
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10:30 am: Starting point at Kyoto Gosho Imperial Palace 京都御所 出発187 viewsThe procession is ready to depart.
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The Aoi Matsuri started in the early Heian Period in the 8th century as a national or state-sponsored event.184 views
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The Aoi Matsuri (Festival) used to be called Kamo-sai, after the name of the two shrines which hold the festival.180 views賀茂祭
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Following the Saio-dai Princess are more high-ranking ladies of the court.179 views
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Shrine maiden on horseback called Munanori Onna. 騎女175 views
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With over 30 horses in the procession, this guy will be kept busy...165 views
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Saio-dai Princess passing through Shimogamo Shrine's Tadasu no Mori forest promenade. 斎王代、糺の森（ただすのもり）にて159 views下鴨神社
糺の森（ただすのもり）
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Shrine maiden on horseback called Munanori Onna.158 views
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女別当155 views
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Ox carriage decorated with purple wisteria flowers.151 views
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May 15, the day of the procession, is the festival's climax. However, there are other festival-related ceremonies and events before this day.150 views
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Kawaramachi-dori 河原町通150 views
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High-ranking Lady of the Court 高級女官150 views
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Capping the festival is this horse running at Kamigamo Shrine. 走馬150 views
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Shrine maiden on horseback called Munanori Onna.149 views
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Shrine maiden on horseback called Munanori Onna.149 views
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This good horse stopped as signaled. But a few other horses just galloped past without stopping.148 views下鴨神社
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The procession's highest-ranking official called Chokushi. An Imperial Messenger. 勅使147 views
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走馬146 views
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The first ox carriage. 牛車145 views
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Kawaramachi-dori 河原町通144 views
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The ox carriage's traditional entourage includes a carpenter who repairs the carriage during the procession if necessary.144 views最高位の女官が乗る女房車という牛車
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About 3:00 pm: The start of the procession begins with a police car.143 views鴨川沿いの加茂街道
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And mounted police.143 views
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The Saio-dai's ox carriage called a gissha. 牛車143 views
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High-ranking Lady of the Court 高級女官142 views高級女官
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Main promenade of Kyoto Imperial Palace141 views
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They have several horses running down the track at full speed. 下鴨神社141 views
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斎王代、齋藤彩子さん(21)141 views
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Norijiri horsemen. 乗尻140 views
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High-ranking court lady139 views
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The procession is about 1 kilometer long.138 viewsWall of Kyoto Imperial Palace.
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11:50 am: The procession reaches Shimogamo Shrine. 下鴨神社138 viewsShimogamo Shrine has a very elongated shrine grounds, with a long straight path to the shrine hall.
糺の森（ただすのもり）
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Flower umbrella called furyu-gasa. 風流傘138 viewsThese flower umbrellas are mainly for decorative purposes, to add more color to the procession.
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138 views
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It takes about an hour to see the entire procession go by.137 viewsWall of Kyoto Imperial Palace.
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137 views
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Procession crossing over the Kamogawa River on the Misonobashi Bridge to Kamigamo Shrine. 御薗橋137 views
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Norijiri horsemen leads the procession. 乗尻137 views
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One of six court dancers called maibito. 舞人137 views
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Main promenade of Kyoto Imperial Palace136 viewsUnless you get here early, it is very difficult to get a good place to take pictures. This promenade is the most popular place for photographers. It is most scenic because there are no distracting buildings.
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Horse track at Shimogamo Shrine. 下鴨神社135 views
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Bridge to Shimogamo Shrine 出町橋133 views
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The procession departed Shimogamo Shrine at 2:20 pm to head for Kamigamo Shrine up river. People here waiting for the procession along the Kamogawa River. 鴨川沿いの加茂街道133 views鴨川沿いの加茂街道
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133 views
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3:30 pm: The procession reaches Kamigamo Shrine. 上賀茂神社133 views
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Horses going to the starting point to run down the track between the two toriis at Kamigamo Shrine.132 views
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Flower umbrella131 viewsThese flower umbrellas are mainly for decorative purposes, to add more color to the procession.
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High-ranking Lady of the Court130 views高級女官
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130 views
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Kamigamo Shrine 上賀茂神社130 views
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Court ladies called uneme. Their kimono have a blue wave design. 釆女129 views
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One of six court dancers called maibito. 舞人126 views
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The procession's highest-ranking official called Chokushi. An Imperial Messenger. 勅使126 views
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