Aoi Festival An elegant procession from the picturesque Heian period

The Aoi Festival (May 15) is one of the three largest festivals in Kyoto in Japan and is an important annual festival of both Shimogamo Shrine and Kamigamo Shrine. The festival's official name is the Kamo Festival and it was started in the mid 6th century. 

Emperor Kinmei ordered a ceremonial festival to end a serious famine. Aoi are the hollyhock leaves which decorate everything in the procession from the carts to the cows pulling the carts. The festival became popular with the general public in the Edo period (1600-1868).

The highlight of the festival is the huge, elegant procession on the 15th that departs from the Kyoto Imperial Palace and proceeds to Kamigamo Shrine via Shimogamo Shrine. The procession consists of two parts: Roto Ritual and Shato Ritual. People dressed in the Heian-period classic costumes parade through the city. 

The procession consists of more than 500 people, 35 horses, 4 oxen and two oxcarts. Along with the Gion Festival in July and the Jidai Festival in October, the Aoi Festival is a must-see event of Kyoto (the festival will be postponed in the case of rain). 

May 12- Mikage Festival

Shimogamo Shrine, from 9:30: the sacred spirit of this festival is welcomed to Shimogamo Shrine prior to the main festival. At 16:00, elegant Japanese dance and music is performed.

Access
Shimogamo Shrine: Kyoto City Bus #205, Shimogamojinja-mae; Kamigamo Shrine: Kyoto City Bus #9, Kamigamo Misonobashi 

Procession Schedule
Kyoto Imperial Palace (10:30) - Shimogamo Shrine (arriving at 11:40 and departing at 14:20) - Kamigamo Shrine (15:30)