Home > KYOTO 京都府 > Kyoto city 京都市 > Aoi Matsuri Festival 葵祭

001-IMG_0710.jpg
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. Kyoto 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
002-IMG_0725.jpg
The bull was mooing all the time and was very restless.Do bulls moo or do they snort? This was making a loud noise.
003-IMG_0711.jpg
Norijiri horseman leads the procession. 乗尻The procession, called Roto-no-Gi (路頭の儀), is actually one of three rites performed during the festival.
003-IMG_0717.jpg
Norijiri horseman leads the procession. 乗尻
004-IMG_0723.jpg
10:30 am: Starting point at Kyoto Gosho Imperial Palace 京都御所 出発The procession is ready to depart.
004-IMG_0728.jpg
Everyone is dressed in Heian-Period (794-1185) costumes.
004-IMG_0729.jpg
No. 4 official of the old police force and court justice called Kebiishi-no-sakan 検非違使志検非違使志
004-IMG_0730.jpg
004-IMG_0731.jpg
004-IMG_0733.jpg
No. 3 official of the old police force and court justice called Kebiishi-no-jo 検非違使尉検非違使尉
005-IMG_0735.jpg
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.
005-IMG_0737.jpg
006-IMG_0739.jpg
"Heian" comes from "Heian-kyo," the former name of Kyoto city.
007-IMG_0743.jpg
The Heian Period was when Kyoto was the capital of Japan where the Emperor resided.
007-IMG_0745.jpg
007-IMG_0747.jpg
008-IMG_0752.jpg
The Aoi Matsuri (Festival) used to be called Kamo-sai, after the name of the two shrines which hold the festival.賀茂祭
008-IMG_0758.jpg
One of six court dancers called maibito. 舞人
009-IMG_0761.jpg
The procession's highest-ranking official called Chokushi. An Imperial Messenger. The horse is highly decorated. 勅使
010-IMG_0763.jpg
The Aoi Matsuri started in the early Heian Period in the 8th century as a national or state-sponsored event.
011-IMG_0764.jpg
May 15, the day of the procession, is the festival's climax. However, there are other festival-related ceremonies and events before this day.
012-IMG_0765.jpg
Over 500 people in the procession walk along the 8-kilometer route.There's a lunch break at around noon at Shimogamo Shrine.
013-IMG_0766.jpg
014-IMG_0770.jpg
Flower umbrella called furyu-gasa. 風流傘Flowers are artificial.
014-IMG_0772.jpg
Musician called baiju. There are seven of them wearing the same wardrobe. 陪従
014-IMG_0774.jpg
015-IMG_0777.jpg
Flower umbrella
016-IMG_0781.jpg
Saio-dai Princess procession. 斎王代
017-IMG_0786.jpg
Saio-dai Princess procession. 斎王代
018-IMG_0789.jpg
The Saio-dai Retsu column begins. Consists of all women, highlighted by the Saio-dai Princess.
019-IMG_0792.jpg
High-ranking lady of the court
020-IMG_0794.jpg
Court ladies called myobu. 命婦
021-IMG_0800.jpg
Court lady called myobu. 命婦
022-IMG_0801.jpg
Court lady called myobu. 命婦
023-IMG_0805.jpg
024-IMG_0809.jpg
025-IMG_0812.jpg
026-IMG_0817.jpg
斎王代
027-IMG_0818.jpg
Saio-dai Princess riding on a special palanquin called Oyoyo. 斎王代 腰輿(およよ)腰輿(およよ)
028-IMG_0820.jpg
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)The 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.

Read more about here.
029-IMG_0822.jpg
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.腰輿(およよ)
030-IMG_0824.jpg
031-IMG_0826.jpg
Court ladies called uneme. Their kimono have a blue wave design. 釆女釆女
032-IMG_0828.jpg
Shrine maiden on horseback called Munanori Onna. 騎女They escort the Saio-dai Princess.
033-IMG_0831.jpg
Shrine maiden on horseback called Munanori Onna. They escort the Saio-dai Princess.騎女
034-IMG_0835.jpg
Shrine maiden on horseback called Munanori Onna.騎女
035-IMG_0836.jpg
Shrine maiden on horseback called Munanori Onna.騎女
036-IMG_0841.jpg
Shrine maiden on horseback called Munanori Onna.騎女
037-IMG_0754.jpg
With over 30 horses in the procession, this guy will be kept busy...
038-IMG_0848.jpg
Following the Saio-dai Princess are more high-ranking ladies of the court.
039-IMG_0855.jpg
040-IMG_0864.jpg
041-IMG_0865.jpg
042-IMG_0866.jpg
043-IMG_0868.jpg
044-IMG_0871.jpg
045-IMG_0839.jpg
The procession is about 1 kilometer long.Wall of Kyoto Imperial Palace.
046-IMG_6929.jpg
It takes about an hour to see the entire procession go by.Wall of Kyoto Imperial Palace.
047-IMG_0879.jpg
Main promenade of Kyoto Imperial Palace
048-IMG_6939.jpg
Main promenade of Kyoto Imperial PalaceUnless 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.
049-IMG_6949.jpg
Kawaramachi-dori 河原町通
050-IMG_0884.jpg
Kawaramachi-dori 河原町通
051-IMG_6959.jpg
Bridge to Shimogamo Shrine 出町橋
051a-IMG_1090.jpg
Hollyhock (aoi) leaves 葵
052-IMG_0889.jpg
11:50 am: The procession reaches Shimogamo Shrine. 下鴨神社Shimogamo 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)
053-IMG_0894.jpg
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)にて下鴨神社

糺の森(ただすのもり)
054-IMG_0906.jpg
Ceremony at Shimogamo Shrine. 下鴨神社The public is not allowed to see the ceremony within the shrine.
055-IMG_0918.jpg
Horse track at Shimogamo Shrine. 下鴨神社
056-IMG_0951.jpg
They have several horses running down the track at full speed. 下鴨神社
057-IMG_0949.jpg
Also see the video at YouTube. 走馬下鴨神社
058-IMG_0966.jpg
This good horse stopped as signaled. But a few other horses just galloped past without stopping.下鴨神社
059-IMG_0976.jpg
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鴨川沿いの加茂街道
060-IMG_0979.jpg
About 3:00 pm: The start of the procession begins with a police car.鴨川沿いの加茂街道
061-IMG_0980.jpg
And mounted police.
062-IMG_0981.jpg
Norijiri horsemen. 乗尻
062-IMG_0984.jpg
Norijiri horsemen leads the procession. 乗尻
062-IMG_0989.jpg
063-IMG_0990.jpg
063-IMG_0991.jpg
064-IMG_0992.jpg
065-IMG_0994.jpg
066-IMG_0999.jpg
066-IMG_1000.jpg
067-IMG_1004.jpg
067-IMG_1005.jpg
068-IMG_1007.jpg
068-IMG_1009.jpg
069-IMG_1010.jpg
070-IMG_1014.jpg
The first ox carriage. 牛車
071-IMG_1019.jpg
Ox carriage decorated with purple wisteria flowers.
072-IMG_1020.jpg
The wooden wheels creak like they did centuries ago.
073-IMG_1022.jpg
074-IMG_1024.jpg
074-IMG_1027.jpg
One of six court dancers called maibito. 舞人
075-IMG_1030.jpg
One of six court dancers called maibito. 舞人
075-IMG_1034.jpg
The procession's highest-ranking official called Chokushi. An Imperial Messenger. 勅使
075-IMG_1035.jpg
The procession's highest-ranking official called Chokushi. An Imperial Messenger. 勅使
076-IMG_1039.jpg
077-IMG_1043.jpg
Flower umbrella called furyu-gasa. 風流傘These flower umbrellas are mainly for decorative purposes, to add more color to the procession.
078-IMG_1046.jpg
078-IMG_1047.jpg
079-IMG_1049.jpg
080-IMG_1052.jpg
Flower umbrellaThese flower umbrellas are mainly for decorative purposes, to add more color to the procession.
081-IMG_1054.jpg
Flower umbrellaThese flower umbrellas are mainly for decorative purposes, to add more color to the procession.
082-IMG_1055.jpg
High-ranking Lady of the Court 高級女官高級女官
083-IMG_1058.jpg
High-ranking Lady of the Court高級女官
084-IMG_1060.jpg
085-IMG_1061.jpg
086-IMG_1063.jpg
High-ranking Lady of the Court 高級女官
087-IMG_1065.jpg
088-IMG_1068.jpg
Kawaii!!
089-IMG_1069.jpg
斎王代、齋藤彩子さん(21)
090-IMG_1070.jpg
She wears a juni-hitoe kimono and rides in a carriage called Oyoyo. 斎王代、齋藤彩子さん (21)腰輿(およよ)
091-IMG_1071.jpg
092-IMG_1072.jpg
093-IMG_1073.jpg
Also see my photos of the Tsuchiyama Saio Princess Procession here. The procession ultimately went to Saiku, near Ise Grand Shrines in Mie Prefecture where the Saio princess served.
094-IMG_1074.jpg
Court ladies called uneme. Their kimono have a blue wave design. 釆女
095-IMG_1076.jpg
Shrine maiden on horseback called Munanori Onna. 騎女
096-IMG_1080.jpg
Shrine maiden on horseback called Munanori Onna. 騎女
097-IMG_1084.jpg
Shrine maiden on horseback called Munanori Onna.
098-IMG_1094.jpg
Shrine maiden on horseback called Munanori Onna.
099-IMG_1097.jpg
Shrine maiden on horseback called Munanori Onna.
100-IMG_1102.jpg
Shrine maiden on horseback called Munanori Onna.
101-IMG_1103.jpg
High-ranking court lady
102-IMG_1104.jpg
103-IMG_1107.jpg
女別当
104-IMG_1114.jpg
The Saio-dai's ox carriage called a gissha. 牛車
105-IMG_1116.jpg
The ox carriage's traditional entourage includes a carpenter who repairs the carriage during the procession if necessary.最高位の女官が乗る女房車という牛車
106-IMG_1118.jpg
Ox carriage with plum blossoms dangling from the roof.
107-IMG_1123.jpg
108-IMG_1126.jpg
Procession crossing over the Kamogawa River on the Misonobashi Bridge to Kamigamo Shrine. 御薗橋
109-IMG_1132.jpg
3:30 pm: The procession reaches Kamigamo Shrine. 上賀茂神社
110-IMG_1155.jpg
Kamigamo Shrine 上賀茂神社
111-IMG_1157.jpg
112-IMG_1161.jpg
Horses going to the starting point to run down the track between the two toriis at Kamigamo Shrine.
113-IMG_1162.jpg
114-IMG_1165.jpg
Capping the festival is this horse running at Kamigamo Shrine. 走馬
115-IMG_1183.jpg
走馬
116-IMG_1178.jpg
Whoa!
117-IMG_1187.jpg
All finish
118-IMG_1190.jpg
Long line for the bus stop.
119-IMG_1188.jpg
Line at the bus stop. The buses did not come so frequently. So I just walked back to the nearest subway station.
   
142 files on 1 page(s)