# Aoi Matsuri

> Five hundred people in Heian court dress walk from the Imperial Palace to the Kamo shrines, every 15 May.

- Prefecture: Kyoto
- Type: Float procession
- Admission: Free to attend
- Typically held: Held every year on 15 May.
- Official site: https://www.kyokanko.or.jp/

## Dates

- 2027-05-15 to 2027-05-15
- Status: confirmed
- Dates verified on 2026-08-20 from https://www.kyokanko.or.jp/

Aoi Matsuri is the oldest of Kyoto's three great festivals and the quietest of them. There are no floats, no drums and no shouting. About five hundred people in Heian court dress walk eight kilometres from the Imperial Palace to Shimogamo and then Kamigamo shrine, with ox carts, horses and a young woman chosen as the Saio-dai at the centre of it. Everything is hollyhock. The leaf is pinned to the carts, the carriages and the hats, which is where the festival gets its name. It is a procession to watch rather than join, and the pace is walking pace, so pick one spot and let it come to you.

## Where it happens
- Kyoto Imperial Palace
- Shimogamo Shrine
- Kamigamo Shrine

## FAQ

### When is Aoi Matsuri?

On 15 May every year. The procession leaves the Kyoto Imperial Palace in the morning and reaches Kamigamo shrine in the afternoon.

### How is it different from Gion Matsuri?

Aoi Matsuri is a single day and a single walking procession in Heian court dress, with no floats and no crowds pushing at night. Gion Matsuri runs a whole month and is built around twelve-tonne floats.

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Source: Aoi Matsuri — Japan Voyage