The Aoi Matsuri is one of Kyoto's three great annual festivals and one of Japan's oldest continuously celebrated cultural events. Held each year on 15 May, its origins date back more than 1,400 years, when rituals were performed to pray for abundant harvests and protection from natural disasters.

The festival's centrepiece is a magnificent procession that departs from the Kyoto Imperial Palace before travelling to Shimogamo Shrine and Kamigamo Shrine. More than 500 participants, dressed in meticulously recreated Heian-period court attire, proceed on foot, horseback and traditional ox-drawn carts, recreating the elegance of Kyoto's imperial past.

Named after the hollyhock leaves worn by participants and used to decorate the procession, the Aoi Matsuri is distinguished by its remarkable authenticity. Every garment, ceremonial object and ritual reflects traditions that have been preserved for centuries, offering visitors a rare opportunity to witness Japan's court culture brought vividly to life.

Unlike the energy of Kyoto's summer festivals, the Aoi Matsuri unfolds with quiet dignity and measured ceremony. Set against the fresh greenery of late spring, it offers an elegant celebration of Kyoto's history, spirituality and enduring cultural traditions.