PHOTO
Dubai: The Jidai Matsuri (時代祭) is a festival that takes place every year on October 22 the anniversary of the foundation of Kyoto. It consists of a large parade that travels from the Imperial Palace to Heian Shrine. Jidai Matsuri is Japanese for “Festival of Ages”, and the participants of the parade are dressed in accurate costumes from almost every period of Japanese history, as well as famous historical figures. There are about 2000 participants and it takes two hours to watch the entire procession pass by.
The Jidai Matsuri is held by Heian Shrine, and both the festival and the shrine were established in 1895 to celebrate Kyoto’s history and culture. A few years before in 1868, the capital was moved to Tokyo after having been in Kyoto for over a thousand years. Despite its short history, the Jidai Matsuri is one of Kyoto’s three most famous festivals, along with the Gion Matsuri in July and the Aoi Matsuri in May.
The historical costumes and characters that are displayed in the parate cover the approximately 1100 years during which Kyoto was the national capital. The procession is separated into historical eras and then further separated into themes, of which there are about twenty. The parade begins with characters from the Meiji Rstoration in 1868, and then continues in reverse chronological order until the beginning of the Heian Period in 781.
At the very head of the parade there are the festival’s honorary commissioners, riding in horse drawn carriages in the style of the mid 1800s. The commissioners include figures like the governor of Kyoto Prefecture, the mayor of Kyoto City and the city council chairman. Following them are figures of the Meiji Restoration. There is a marching band with drums and flutes and soldiers who would have fought with the imperial forces, as well as some of the era’s most notable figures, such as Sakamoto Ryoma.
The largest group in the parade depicts the extravagant convoys sent by the Shogun to represent him at important imperial ceremonies in Kyoto during the Edo Period (1603-1867). The three most important officials ride on horseback, and there is also a palanquin carried by attendants that the officials would use when travelling. Afterwards there is a much smaller group that consists of about a half dozen famous women from the period, including a princess sitting on a wheeled platform.
Over the course of two hours the parade covers 2 kilometers from Kyoto Imperial Palace to Heian Jingu Shrine and is a brilliantly assembled procession of 2,000 members including 70 horses, 2 oxen, and numerous carriages. Reserved seating (for a fee) at the Kyoto Imperial Palace, Oike-dori Street, and along Heian Jingu-michi Street is recommended for the best view of the procession. Reserved seating with English guidance (for a fee) is also available exclusively on Oike-dori Street.
For further information and online reservation, Please visit https://bit.ly/35cpfpy.
-Ends-
About Kyoto City Tourism Association:
Kyoto City Tourism Association is composed of Kyoto city officials and over 1,400 tourism & MICE related businesses. It aims at promoting tourism in Kyoto through activities such as participating in international tourism expositions, inviting and supporting overseas media and travel agencies to Kyoto to familiarize them with tourist & MICE venues; and improving the environment for international tourists and business visitors. KCTA is also commissioned by the city of Kyoto to manage the Kyoto City Overseas Representatives which are located in the United Arab Emirates, Germany, Hong Kong, Malaysia, UK, the U.S., France, South Korea, China, Australia, Taiwan, Italy and Spain.
For Press Inquiries, please contact:
Ms. Harue Oki ( hoki@aviareps.com )
Ms. Ana Dombrovscaia ( adombrovscaia@aviareps.com )
Mr. Abdullah Mansour ( amansour@aviareps.com )
Kyoto City Tourism Association Middle East Representative Office
C/- AVIAREPS FZ-LLC
Tel: + 971 (0)4 375 3295
Fax: + 971 (0)4 439 3582
© Press Release 2019Disclaimer: The contents of this press release was provided from an external third party provider. This website is not responsible for, and does not control, such external content. This content is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis and has not been edited in any way. Neither this website nor our affiliates guarantee the accuracy of or endorse the views or opinions expressed in this press release.
The press release is provided for informational purposes only. The content does not provide tax, legal or investment advice or opinion regarding the suitability, value or profitability of any particular security, portfolio or investment strategy. Neither this website nor our affiliates shall be liable for any errors or inaccuracies in the content, or for any actions taken by you in reliance thereon. You expressly agree that your use of the information within this article is at your sole risk.
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, this website, its parent company, its subsidiaries, its affiliates and the respective shareholders, directors, officers, employees, agents, advertisers, content providers and licensors will not be liable (jointly or severally) to you for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, incidental, punitive or exemplary damages, including without limitation, lost profits, lost savings and lost revenues, whether in negligence, tort, contract or any other theory of liability, even if the parties have been advised of the possibility or could have foreseen any such damages.
