AOI MATSURI
What is the Aoi Matsuri?
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What is the Aoi Matsuri?
The Aoi Matsuri is one of Japan’s oldest festivals, formally known as the Kamo Festival, held at Kamigamo and Shimogamo Shrines in Kyoto. Its origins date back to the 6th century, when prayers were offered to the Kamo deities for relief from disasters and poor harvests. In the Heian period it became an important imperial rite, with an envoy sent by the Emperor, and it has been preserved as a sacred court ceremony ever since.
On May 15 each year, the elegant Roto-no-gi procession moves from the Kyoto Imperial Palace to the two shrines. Participants dressed in authentic Heian-period court costumes recreate the atmosphere of the ancient capital, their garments carefully arranged according to historical knowledge and traditional dressing techniques.
The Aoi Matsuri is one of Kyoto’s Three Great Festivals and also counted among Japan’s Three Imperial Festivals. It appears in The Tale of Genji and is widely known as a symbol of classical court culture. For more than 1,500 years, it has carried forward the spirit, prayer, and refined beauty of Japanese tradition.