On October 15, 2023, the Saiku Parade, which recreates the journey of the princess from Kyoto to Ise Grand Shrine, was held in the area of Nonomiya Shrine in Ukyo Ward, Kyoto City. Saikudai dressed in dazzling 12-hitoe costumes rode on palanquins and paraded around the Saga-Arashiyama area, entertaining tourists.
Saiku was an unmarried Imperial Princess who served at Ise Grand Shrine on behalf of the Emperor. Nonomiya Shrine and local preservation societies have been holding this event since 1999, in honor of the large procession that took place after purifying themselves in Sagano and heading to the shrine.
This year, office worker Kotono Morinaga (23 years old, Ukyo Ward) became a Saigu priest and attended the Shinto ritual at Nonomiya Shrine. She left the shrine around noon with government officials and ladies-in-waiting dressed in period costumes such as sokuta. She slowly made her way through bamboo groves, shopping streets, and Togetsukyo Bridge.
The total number of people in line was about 60. This is a slight return to the size of last year, when the number of participants was reduced to about 30 to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus. People along the road were actively pointing their smartphones at the gorgeous historical picture scroll unfolding before their eyes and taking pictures.
