Jidai Matsuri: Kyoto's Autumn Walk Through a Thousand Years

Published October 20, 2026 at 6:43 PM JST

On October 22, around two thousand people in carefully made costumes march through Kyoto from the Imperial Palace to Heian Shrine, showing eight eras of the city's history.

Quick answer: Jidai Matsuri, the Festival of the Ages, is a costume procession in Kyoto that is usually held on October 22. Roughly two thousand participants dressed in the clothing of different periods walk from the Kyoto Imperial Palace to Heian Shrine. It is one of Kyoto's three great festivals, and organizers confirm the schedule and any weather changes each year.

A Parade Where Time Runs Backward

Most festivals look back to the distant past. Jidai Matsuri takes that idea further and shows the whole story at once. Every autumn, Kyoto's streets fill with people dressed as courtiers, warriors, townspeople and imperial attendants from many centuries, walking in a line that starts in the most recent past and ends in the earliest days of the city.

The festival is usually held on October 22. According to Kyoto's tourism information, a procession of about twenty groups and some two thousand participants travels roughly two kilometers, and it takes about two hours for the whole parade to pass a single point. It represents eight historical eras and uses a very large number of costumes and ceremonial items, around twelve thousand, according to the same source.

The Jidai Matsuri is one of the three great festivals of Kyoto, alongside the Aoi Matsuri in May and the Gion Matsuri in July. Where the Aoi Matsuri is elegant and the Gion Matsuri is grand, this one is a joyful lesson in history that is easy to enjoy even for first-time visitors.

Why the Festival Began in 1895

The story begins with a change in the capital. In 1868, with the Meiji Restoration, the imperial court moved to Tokyo, and Kyoto, which had been the capital for more than a thousand years, looked for new ways to celebrate its heritage. In 1895, the city marked the 1100th anniversary of the founding of Heian-kyo, the old name for Kyoto, by Emperor Kanmu in 794. To celebrate, the city built Heian Shrine to honor Emperor Kanmu and began the Jidai Matsuri as its grand festival.

Kyoto's tourism page notes that the first festival took place on October 25 and that the festival has been held on October 22 since 1896, the anniversary of the capital's relocation to Heian-kyo. Wikipedia adds that Emperor Komei, the last emperor to reign from Kyoto, was added to the honors of the festival in 1940. Japan Guide describes the two emperors as the first and last emperors to reign from Kyoto, which makes a fitting frame for the festival.

In this way, the festival became a way for the people of Kyoto to celebrate their city's long history and pride in its culture. It has lasted well beyond a century.

The Eras and the People You Will See

The procession is arranged in reverse chronological order. According to Kyoto's tourism site, it begins with the Meiji Restoration royalist groups and moves back through time to the Enryaku era, the period in which Heian-kyo was built. Along the way come figures that most Japanese visitors recognize from history and novels. Examples listed on the tourism pages include Katsura Kogoro and Saigo Takamori from the Restoration, and Oda Nobunaga from the age of warring states. Japan Guide adds Sakamoto Ryoma among the Meiji-era figures.

The Edo period section is the largest group. It includes officials on horseback and a palanquin, and a small group of notable women. In the middle of the procession are the armor of Nobunaga and his commanders, the dress of the Muromachi period, and Heian women and nobles. Common people appear too. The Rakuchu Fuzoku group depicts Muromachi townspeople, and the groups called Shirakawa-me and Ohara-me depict women's groups from the Kyoto area, according to the tourism listing.

The costumes are not simple imitations. The tourism site explains that clothing, hairstyles and ceremonial items are recreated to match each period. Sei Shonagon, the court lady and author, appears in the layered robes called jūnihitoe, and Murasaki Shikibu, the author of The Tale of Genji, is shown in a kosode. Seeing these figures walk by gives a very physical sense of the history.

The Ceremonial Palanquins at the End

The last section of the procession is the Shinko-retsu, the main religious part of the parade. It carries two gohoren, which are ceremonial palanquins, holding the spirits of Emperor Kanmu and Emperor Komei, the deities enshrined at Heian Shrine, according to Kyoto's tourism site.

This section brings the procession to its natural conclusion. The groups that came before it have shown how people lived in many eras, and the shrine's two deities arrive at the end as the guests of honor. The procession is accompanied by the gagaku musicians in the earlier section, and the music adds a sense of dignity to the walk.

The Route and the Schedule

The Kyoto Imperial Palace is the starting point. Kyoto's tourism site lists the procession leaving the Kenreimon gate at noon, with estimated times for the head of the line: Sakaimachi Gomon at 12:15, Karasuma Marutamachi at 12:30, Karasuma Oike at 12:50, Kawaramachi Oike at 13:20, Kawaramachi Sanjo at 13:30, Sanjo Ohashi at 13:40, the Sanjo Jingu-michi corner at 14:10 and Heian Shrine at 14:30. These are estimates, and the actual times can shift on the day.

Japan Guide describes the length of the full route as about five kilometers, and it says the parade takes about two hours to pass any one spot. Kyoto's tourism information says that in case of rain the festival is postponed, and that the decision is made early in the morning, so check the announcements on the day.

How to Enjoy It as a Visitor

There are several good places to watch. The crowds are densest at the Imperial Palace grounds and on the approach to Heian Shrine, according to Japan Guide, so arriving early is a good idea. Other viewers prefer a spot along Kawaramachi, Oike or Sanjo streets, where they can see the whole procession pass at their own pace.

Paid seating is offered so that visitors can sit and follow the procession in comfort. According to Japan Guide, such seating is available near the Imperial Palace, in front of Kyoto City Hall and along the approach to Heian Shrine, and tickets can be reserved online or at convenience stores. Check the official sales page for the current prices and dates.

Dress for the autumn weather, bring a seat cushion or a light folding stool if standing for a long time, and be considerate of other viewers. Many people photograph the participants as they pass, but it is polite to avoid stepping into the route or blocking those behind you. Streets along the route are busy that day, so public transport and walking are the easiest ways to move around.

Heian Shrine and Autumn in Kyoto

The festival ends at Heian Shrine, which was built in 1895 for the same anniversary and which holds the Jidai Matsuri as its grand festival. The shrine grounds make a pleasant place to walk after watching the parade.

October is a lovely month for visiting Kyoto, and the weather is usually mild. If you can add a morning walk through the Imperial Park or a visit to a nearby temple, you will see how the city's history is not hidden in museums but lives in its streets.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Jidai Matsuri held?

It is usually held on October 22 each year. Kyoto's tourism information says that if it rains the festival is postponed, and the decision is announced in the early morning. Look at the official sources shortly before your trip to confirm the plan.

How many people take part?

According to Kyoto's tourism pages, about two thousand people take part in about twenty groups, representing eight eras. They also use many horses and oxen, and about twelve thousand costumes and ceremonial items. The numbers are approximate, and they may change slightly from year to year.

Do visitors need a ticket to watch?

Paid seats are available if you prefer a reserved place with a good view. Japan Guide lists seating near the Imperial Palace, Kyoto City Hall and the approach to Heian Shrine. Check the official page for dates and prices before you travel.

Further reading: the Kyoto tourism page on the Jidai Matsuri, the Japan Guide page on the Jidai Matsuri and the Wikipedia overview of the Jidai Matsuri.

Keep exploring: Aoi Matsuri: Kyoto's Elegant Hollyhock Festival; Five Mountains, Five Fires: Kyoto's Gozan Okuribi Send-Off; Kurama Fire Festival: A Torch-Lit Autumn Night in Kyoto's Hills; Kyoto Gion Festival: Yamahoko Floats and Lantern-Lit Yoiyama Nights.