May. 16, 2022 UPDATE
Aoi Matsuri Festival
- 葵祭 -Traveler Friendly
If you purchase the reserved seat (￥2,050), a brochure written both in English and Japanese would come along 8available onsite).
Information
Brochure written in Japanese and English is available if you purchase the reserved seat
Languages spoken
Japanese, English ( not always available)
Imperial Palace & Teramachi
Popular
PeriodMay 15th, every year
VenueKyoto Imperial Palace, Shimogamo Jinja Shrine, Kamigamo Jinja Shrine
Story & Recommendation
One of Kyoto’s Three Great Festivals and a Procession that Stretches from the Imperial Palace to the Kamigamo Shrine
Known as one of Kyoto’s three great festivals, Aoi Matsuri consists of a humongous procession of over 500 people dressed in the traditional garb of Heian period (794-1185) court nobles.
Leaving from the Kyoto Imperial Palace, the procession climbs north, all the way to the Kamigamo Shrine.
“Aoi” is the Japanese name for hollyhocks, a species of flowering plant, which you’ll see used prominently throughout the procession.
The festival is of great significance to both the Shimogamo and Kamigamo shrines as it’s closely related to the deified imperial family.
The procession departs the Kyoto Imperial Palace at 10:30 a.m. and slowly proceeds to the Kamigamo Shrine via the Shimogamo Shrine.
▼See here for our Writer's Blog:
http://sharing-kyoto.com/Blog/b_Aoi_Matsuri_Festival/
Leaving from the Kyoto Imperial Palace, the procession climbs north, all the way to the Kamigamo Shrine.
“Aoi” is the Japanese name for hollyhocks, a species of flowering plant, which you’ll see used prominently throughout the procession.
The festival is of great significance to both the Shimogamo and Kamigamo shrines as it’s closely related to the deified imperial family.
The procession departs the Kyoto Imperial Palace at 10:30 a.m. and slowly proceeds to the Kamigamo Shrine via the Shimogamo Shrine.
▼See here for our Writer's Blog:
http://sharing-kyoto.com/Blog/b_Aoi_Matsuri_Festival/
-
Sharing Kyoto Staff
Details
Event time
May 15th 10:30am - 3:30pm
Cancellations
The event will be postponed until the following day in case of rain
Price range
*Reserved seats cost ¥3,400. See below for details.(https://www.kyokanko.or.jp/aoi/kanran.html)
Credit cards
Accepted
Reserved seat tickets can be purchased via Voyagin or at the Kyoto Tourist Information Center on the second floor of Kyoto Station just outside the JR gates (open 8:30 a.m. - 7 p.m.).
There are two seating areas; the Kyoto Imperial Palace and the Shimogamo Shrine. The procession passes at 10:30 and 11:40 respectively.
Please check Voyagin’s refund policy before purchasing.
