The Jidai Festival, one of Kyoto's three major festivals, began in Kyoto City on October 22, 2023. Around 9:00 a.m., the procession centered on two phoenix carriages enshrining Emperor Kanmu and Emperor Komei departed from Heian Shrine in Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City and headed for Kyoto Gyoen National Garden (Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto City).
The procession departs from Kyoto Gyoen National Garden at noon and heads for Heian Shrine via Karasuma-dori, Oike-dori, Kawaramachi-dori, and Sanjo-dori. A colorful picture scroll of history is unfolded on Miyako-oji Street, with people wearing costumes from the Heian period, when Kyoto was the capital, to the Meiji Restoration.
The Jidai Festival began in 1895 (Meiji 28) to celebrate the 1100th anniversary of the transfer of the capital to Heian and the founding of Heian Shrine. This will be the 116th time the procession has been held.
