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Most viewed - Aoi Matsuri Festival 葵祭
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Court ladies called uneme. Their kimono have a blue wave design. 釆女1018 views釆女
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Shrine maiden on horseback called Munanori Onna.883 views
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Court ladies called myobu. 命婦833 views
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Court lady called myobu. 命婦762 views
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Shrine maiden on horseback called Munanori Onna. 騎女740 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)572 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)509 views腰輿(およよ)
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Shrine maiden on horseback called Munanori Onna.448 views騎女
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Kawaii!!410 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. 394 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.385 views
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The Saio-dai Retsu column begins. Consists of all women, highlighted by the Saio-dai Princess.374 views
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Saio-dai Princess procession. 斎王代350 views
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Flower umbrella313 views
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Flower umbrella called furyu-gasa. 風流傘291 viewsFlowers are artificial.
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High-ranking lady of the court262 views
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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.255 views
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Flower umbrella253 viewsThese flower umbrellas are mainly for decorative purposes, to add more color to the procession.
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The wooden wheels creak like they did centuries ago.252 views
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Ox carriage with plum blossoms dangling from the roof.241 views
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Norijiri horseman leads the procession. 乗尻228 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221 viewsThey escort the Saio-dai Princess.
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Long line for the bus stop.221 views
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斎王代218 views
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Everyone is dressed in Heian-Period (794-1185) costumes.215 views
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The bull was mooing all the time and was very restless.211 viewsDo bulls moo or do they snort? This was making a loud noise.
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Hollyhock (aoi) leaves 葵210 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208 views検非違使志
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Court lady called myobu. 命婦205 views
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Saio-dai Princess procession. 斎王代204 views
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Saio-dai Princess riding on a special palanquin called Oyoyo. 斎王代 腰輿(およよ)204 views腰輿(およよ)
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All finish203 views
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Shrine maiden on horseback called Munanori Onna.201 views騎女
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Norijiri horseman leads the procession. 乗尻201 views
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Over 500 people in the procession walk along the 8-kilometer route.200 viewsThere's a lunch break at around noon at Shimogamo Shrine.
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The procession's highest-ranking official called Chokushi. An Imperial Messenger. The horse is highly decorated. 勅使199 views
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One of six court dancers called maibito. 舞人198 views
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Shrine maiden on horseback called Munanori Onna. They escort the Saio-dai Princess.194 views騎女
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Musician called baiju. There are seven of them wearing the same wardrobe. 陪従194 views
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Shrine maiden on horseback called Munanori Onna.193 views騎女
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The Heian Period was when Kyoto was the capital of Japan where the Emperor resided.192 views
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"Heian" comes from "Heian-kyo," the former name of Kyoto city.191 views
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Ceremony at Shimogamo Shrine. 下鴨神社186 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184 views検非違使尉
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Whoa!182 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.181 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179 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.178 views
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Following the Saio-dai Princess are more high-ranking ladies of the court.174 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.171 views賀茂祭
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Shrine maiden on horseback called Munanori Onna. 騎女170 views
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With over 30 horses in the procession, this guy will be kept busy...157 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154 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.150 views
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女別当148 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.145 views
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Ox carriage decorated with purple wisteria flowers.145 views
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Capping the festival is this horse running at Kamigamo Shrine. 走馬144 views
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High-ranking Lady of the Court 高級女官143 views
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Shrine maiden on horseback called Munanori Onna.143 views
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Shrine maiden on horseback called Munanori Onna.142 views
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Kawaramachi-dori 河原町通141 views
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This good horse stopped as signaled. But a few other horses just galloped past without stopping.141 views下鴨神社
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The first ox carriage. 牛車140 views
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The ox carriage's traditional entourage includes a carpenter who repairs the carriage during the procession if necessary.139 views最高位の女官が乗る女房車という牛車
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The procession's highest-ranking official called Chokushi. An Imperial Messenger. 勅使139 views
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Main promenade of Kyoto Imperial Palace138 views
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Kawaramachi-dori 河原町通138 views
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The Saio-dai's ox carriage called a gissha. 牛車137 views
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They have several horses running down the track at full speed. 下鴨神社136 views
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Also see the video at YouTube. 走馬136 views下鴨神社
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走馬136 views
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About 3:00 pm: The start of the procession begins with a police car.135 views鴨川沿いの加茂街道
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Norijiri horsemen. 乗尻135 views
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High-ranking Lady of the Court 高級女官135 views高級女官
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And mounted police.134 views
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斎王代、齋藤彩子さん(21)133 views
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The procession is about 1 kilometer long.132 viewsWall of Kyoto Imperial Palace.
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High-ranking court lady132 views
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It takes about an hour to see the entire procession go by.131 viewsWall of Kyoto Imperial Palace.
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Main promenade of Kyoto Imperial Palace130 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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11:50 am: The procession reaches Shimogamo Shrine. 下鴨神社130 viewsShimogamo Shrine has a very elongated shrine grounds, with a long straight path to the shrine hall.

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Flower umbrella called furyu-gasa. 風流傘130 viewsThese flower umbrellas are mainly for decorative purposes, to add more color to the procession.
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Bridge to Shimogamo Shrine 出町橋129 views
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Procession crossing over the Kamogawa River on the Misonobashi Bridge to Kamigamo Shrine. 御薗橋129 views
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One of six court dancers called maibito. 舞人128 views
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Horse track at Shimogamo Shrine. 下鴨神社127 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127 views鴨川沿いの加茂街道
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Horses going to the starting point to run down the track between the two toriis at Kamigamo Shrine.126 views
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Norijiri horsemen leads the procession. 乗尻126 views
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High-ranking Lady of the Court125 views高級女官
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3:30 pm: The procession reaches Kamigamo Shrine. 上賀茂神社125 views
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Flower umbrella124 viewsThese flower umbrellas are mainly for decorative purposes, to add more color to the procession.
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Kamigamo Shrine 上賀茂神社124 views
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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.123 views
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One of six court dancers called maibito. 舞人120 views
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Court ladies called uneme. Their kimono have a blue wave design. 釆女119 views
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The procession's highest-ranking official called Chokushi. An Imperial Messenger. 勅使118 views
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