葵祭 賀茂別雷神社 斎王代以下女人列御禊の儀

The Aoi Matsuri is a festival that colors Kyoto in early summer with an elegant procession.
It is the most important festival of Kamomioya Shrine (Shimogamo Shrine) and Kamowakeikazuchi Shrine (Kamigamo Shrine), which is said to have started about 1,500 years ago.
Various events are held from the beginning of May, and every year on May 15th, a procession of people dressed in Heian period costumes from 1,500 years ago walks a distance of about 8 km. .

The green leaves adorning the imperial carriage, imperial messengers, attendant crowns, etc. of the 'Roto-no-gi' (procession) are twigs of katsura twigs intertwined with two-leaf hollyhock leaves, which are the emblems of Shimogamo and Kamigamo shrines. is.
The Aoi Festival was originally called the Kamo Festival, but when the festival was revived in the Edo period, it began to be decorated with Aoi leaves, and came to be called the Aoi Festival. The hollyhocks used in the festival are donated to the Imperial Palace from both shrines every year. Occasionally, I see seedlings for sale inside the shrine.

The biggest highlight of the festival is the "Roto no Gi", which is the envoy of the emperor on his way to both Shimogamo and Kamigamo shrines. Konoeshi (imperial messenger), Kenbiishi, Kurashikishi, Yamashiroshi, oxcart, furyugasa, Saiodai, etc. all in their original form, 36 horses, 4 oxen, and more than 500 people marched through the Kyoto Imperial Palace.
Departs from Kenreimon. The procession of people dressed in Heian aristocratic costumes is the highlight of the Aoi Festival.
Pay attention to the traditional Japanese aesthetics of the aristocratic costumes, which even Japanese people rarely have the opportunity to see.