By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Network, Reported by Chen Guanxin
Visiting Kyoto in October allows you to savor the refined charm of Japan’s ancient capital as the maple leaves begin to turn red, and the Jidai Matsuri (Festival of the Ages) on October 22 is an unmissable celebration. This annual event, along with the Iris Festival in May and the Gion Festival in July, is known as one of Kyoto’s Three Great Festivals. The highlight of the entire event is the grand procession of over a thousand participants, each dressed in exquisite ancient Japanese costumes and adorned with beautiful accessories, portraying famous historical figures such as Toyotomi Hideyoshi, as well as renowned scholars, court ladies, and beloved consorts. The parade floats and garments are all meticulously researched. In the cool autumn weather of October, the splendor of traditional Japanese attire and historical tales create an elegant and classic atmosphere, heralding the beginning of Kyoto’s maple viewing season in a magnificent and graceful way.
Kyoto’s annual Jidai Matsuri is not only one of the city’s Three Great Festivals but also marks the start of its maple leaf appreciation season. (Image provided by http://inhabithouse.skyrock.com)
The grand “Historical Procession” (known in Japanese as the “Jidai Gyoretsu”) of the Jidai Matsuri is organized by voluntary participants from Kyoto, forming a group of around 2,000 people. Participants portray historical figures from seven different eras, including the Enryaku Period when Kyoto became the capital, the Fujiwara Period known for the flourishing aristocratic culture of the Heian era, the Kamakura Period when samurai began to rise in power with the emergence of the shogunate, the Yoshino Period when Emperor Go-Daigo reclaimed the throne, the Azuchi-Momoyama Period marked by the rise of warring warlords, the Edo Period when the Tokugawa shogunate unified the nation, and the Meiji Restoration Period when heroes and reformists emerged. Whether in terms of costumes or floats, every detail is crafted carefully according to the historical background—be it samurai riding majestic horses with long spears, or gorgeously made-up and graceful consorts strolling through the streets of the ancient capital, making you feel as if you have traveled back to old Kyoto.
The Jidai Matsuri interprets Japan’s historical progression from the perspective of the people of Kyoto. (Image provided by the MK Editorial Department)
The Jidai Matsuri procession begins at noon from the Kyoto Imperial Palace and arrives at Heian Shrine around 2:30 PM. Covering a distance of approximately 4.6 kilometers, the march of the historically costumed participants helps reclaim Kyoto’s pride and precious memories as the former capital.
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The Jidai Matsuri, spontaneously organized by the citizens of Kyoto, even sees the parade participants actively joining in. (Image provided by the MK Editorial Department)