The Jidai Festival, which is said to be a moving picture scroll of history, was held in Kyoto City on October 22, 2023, and the procession departed from Kyoto Gyoen National Garden (Kamigyo Ward) at noon. Approximately 2,000 citizens formed a procession dating back to eight eras, from the Meiji Restoration to the Heian period, and took to Miyako-oji Street wearing costumes that faithfully recreated those times.
The period procession was led by the ``Meishin Kinno Corps,'' decorated with brocade flags and the performance of flutes and drums. A procession of 20 people departs from the Imperial Garden in order, taking about an hour and a half. Many characters from historical figures such as Oda Nobunaga and Murasaki Shikibu also appear.
Prior to this, a Shinto ritual was held at Heian Shrine in Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City. After those involved in the Jidai Festival prayed for the peace of Kyoto and the safety of the procession, they placed two palanquins called ``Mitamashiro'' to commemorate the spirits of Emperor Kanmu, who moved the capital to Heiankyo, and Emperor Komei at the end of the Edo period. Ren), and at 9 a.m., we headed to Kyoto Gyoen National Garden as part of the Shinko train.
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. It was held last year for the first time in three years due to the spread of the new coronavirus infection.
