Aoi Festival

About

The Aoi Festival, formally known as the Kamo Festival, is the annual festival of Kyoto's Shimogamo and Kamigamo shrines. It preserves court rituals and clothing traditions dating back to the Heian period. Its name refers to the aoi leaves used to decorate ox-drawn carriages, participants' robes and headwear, and the oxen and horses. In the Roto-no-gi procession, participants wear traditional attire, with the Chokushidai, Saiodai and their attendants displaying the dress and ceremonial trappings of their respective roles. Shrine rites follow their arrival. Preliminary ceremonies include yabusame, in which archers shoot at targets from galloping horses. From the procession to the shrine rituals, the festival presents Kyoto's enduring court culture.

Details

Location

Japan・Kyoto

Frequency

Held every year