Hello everyone,
I'm Keko, one of the online staff members.
Kyoto's oldest festival, the "Aoi Matsuri," will be held again this year on May 15th.
The Aoi Matsuri is known as one of Kyoto's three major festivals, alongside the Gion Matsuri and the Jidai Matsuri.
About 500 people dressed in Heian period costumes will parade from the Kyoto Imperial Palace to the Kamigamo Shrine, walking a distance of 8 kilometers.
The processions feature elaborate floats, envoys, and attendants adorned in ceremonial attire called "Junihitoe," all decorated with green leaves of the hollyhock plant. 🍃
Originally called the "Kamo Festival," it became known as the "Aoi Matsuri" because of the hollyhock leaves used for decoration.
And did you know that the Junihitoe attire worn by the "Saio Dai" weighs a whopping 30 kilograms...!
Last year, the festival was held amid sweltering summer heat.
It is predicted to be similarly hot this year. Many people come to watch the festival every year, creating a vibrant and lively atmosphere.
The Aoi Matsuri originated about 1400 years ago as a ritual to pray for a bountiful harvest of the five grains. We hope that it will continue to be passed down for many years to come.
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・The photo shows the Aoi Matsuri Festival in 2023. ・In case of rain, the event will be postponed to the following day. In case of rain on both days, the event will be cancelled. |