 Most viewed - Aoi Matsuri Festival 葵祭 |
Court ladies called uneme. Their kimono have a blue wave design. 釆女1034 views釆女
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Shrine maiden on horseback called Munanori Onna.895 views
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Court ladies called myobu. 命婦845 views
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Court lady called myobu. 命婦772 views
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Shrine maiden on horseback called Munanori Onna. 騎女749 views
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The Saio-dai Princess in 2005 was Saito Ayako, a 21-year-old Kyoto native and student at Doshisha Univ. Her 12-layer juni-hitoe kimono weighs 30 kg. 斎王代、齋藤彩子さん(21)582 viewsThe Saio-dai Princess is selected every year in April and a press conference is held to announce who was chosen. She is always a native of Kyoto, single, and in her early 20s. The Saio-dai was first incorporated in the festival in 1956. In 2005, she is the 50th Saio-dai.
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She wears a juni-hitoe kimono and rides in a carriage called Oyoyo. 斎王代、齋藤彩子さん (21)519 views腰輿（およよ）
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Shrine maiden on horseback called Munanori Onna.453 views騎女
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Kawaii!!420 views
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One of Kyoto's Big Three Festivals held on May 15. The Aoi Matsuri's colorful procession of over 500 people in Heian-Period costumes start off at the Kyoto Gosho Imperial Palace and head for the Shimogamo and Kamigamo Shrines. 404 viewsKyoto Gosho Imperial Palace 京都御所: The first ox carriage waits for the procession to start. The ox carriage is called a gissha. 牛車
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The procession basically consists of two columns: The Hon-retsu which includes the procession's highest-ranking official called Chokushi. It consists of men. The second and longer column is the Saio-dai-retsu consisting of women.394 views
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The Saio-dai Retsu column begins. Consists of all women, highlighted by the Saio-dai Princess.383 views
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381 views
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Saio-dai Princess procession. 斎王代358 views
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Flower umbrella320 views
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Flower umbrella called furyu-gasa. 風流傘300 viewsFlowers are artificial.
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272 views
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High-ranking lady of the court270 views
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Flower umbrella263 viewsThese flower umbrellas are mainly for decorative purposes, to add more color to the procession.
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261 views
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Line at the bus stop. The buses did not come so frequently. So I just walked back to the nearest subway station.261 views
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The wooden wheels creak like they did centuries ago.257 views
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Ox carriage with plum blossoms dangling from the roof.249 views
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Norijiri horseman leads the procession. 乗尻233 viewsThe procession, called Roto-no-Gi (路頭の儀), is actually one of three rites performed during the festival.
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Shrine maiden on horseback called Munanori Onna. 騎女229 viewsThey escort the Saio-dai Princess.
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Long line for the bus stop.228 views
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斎王代225 views
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Everyone is dressed in Heian-Period (794-1185) costumes.222 views
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No. 4 official of the old police force and court justice called Kebiishi-no-sakan 検非違使志218 views検非違使志
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Hollyhock (aoi) leaves 葵218 views
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The bull was mooing all the time and was very restless.217 viewsDo bulls moo or do they snort? This was making a loud noise.
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Court lady called myobu. 命婦211 views
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Saio-dai Princess riding on a special palanquin called Oyoyo. 斎王代 腰輿（およよ）211 views腰輿（およよ）
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Saio-dai Princess procession. 斎王代209 views
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All finish209 views
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Norijiri horseman leads the procession. 乗尻209 views
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Shrine maiden on horseback called Munanori Onna.208 views騎女
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One of six court dancers called maibito. 舞人208 views
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Over 500 people in the procession walk along the 8-kilometer route.206 viewsThere's a lunch break at around noon at Shimogamo Shrine.
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The procession's highest-ranking official called Chokushi. An Imperial Messenger. The horse is highly decorated. 勅使204 views
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Shrine maiden on horseback called Munanori Onna. They escort the Saio-dai Princess.203 views騎女
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Musician called baiju. There are seven of them wearing the same wardrobe. 陪従203 views
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The Heian Period was when Kyoto was the capital of Japan where the Emperor resided.199 views
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"Heian" comes from "Heian-kyo," the former name of Kyoto city.198 views
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Shrine maiden on horseback called Munanori Onna.198 views騎女
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Ceremony at Shimogamo Shrine. 下鴨神社193 viewsThe public is not allowed to see the ceremony within the shrine.
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No. 3 official of the old police force and court justice called Kebiishi-no-jo 検非違使尉192 views検非違使尉
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Whoa!190 views
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The Saio-dai Princess is the main figure of the procession. She represents the Imperial princess who worked at the Kamo Shrine and served in the Aoi Festival during the Heian Period.189 views腰輿（およよ）
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10:30 am: Starting point at Kyoto Gosho Imperial Palace 京都御所 出発186 viewsThe procession is ready to depart.
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The Aoi Matsuri started in the early Heian Period in the 8th century as a national or state-sponsored event.184 views
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The Aoi Matsuri (Festival) used to be called Kamo-sai, after the name of the two shrines which hold the festival.179 views賀茂祭
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Following the Saio-dai Princess are more high-ranking ladies of the court.178 views
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Shrine maiden on horseback called Munanori Onna. 騎女174 views
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With over 30 horses in the procession, this guy will be kept busy...161 views
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Saio-dai Princess passing through Shimogamo Shrine's Tadasu no Mori forest promenade. 斎王代、糺の森（ただすのもり）にて157 views下鴨神社
糺の森（ただすのもり）
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Shrine maiden on horseback called Munanori Onna.157 views
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女別当155 views
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May 15, the day of the procession, is the festival's climax. However, there are other festival-related ceremonies and events before this day.150 views
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Ox carriage decorated with purple wisteria flowers.150 views
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Shrine maiden on horseback called Munanori Onna.149 views
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Capping the festival is this horse running at Kamigamo Shrine. 走馬149 views
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High-ranking Lady of the Court 高級女官147 views
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Shrine maiden on horseback called Munanori Onna.147 views
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Kawaramachi-dori 河原町通146 views
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This good horse stopped as signaled. But a few other horses just galloped past without stopping.146 views下鴨神社
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The procession's highest-ranking official called Chokushi. An Imperial Messenger. 勅使146 views
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The first ox carriage. 牛車144 views
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The Saio-dai's ox carriage called a gissha. 牛車143 views
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The ox carriage's traditional entourage includes a carpenter who repairs the carriage during the procession if necessary.143 views最高位の女官が乗る女房車という牛車
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走馬143 views
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Kawaramachi-dori 河原町通142 views
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High-ranking Lady of the Court 高級女官142 views高級女官
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Main promenade of Kyoto Imperial Palace141 views
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They have several horses running down the track at full speed. 下鴨神社141 views
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About 3:00 pm: The start of the procession begins with a police car.140 views鴨川沿いの加茂街道
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Norijiri horsemen. 乗尻140 views
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And mounted police.140 views
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斎王代、齋藤彩子さん(21)138 views
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The procession is about 1 kilometer long.137 viewsWall of Kyoto Imperial Palace.
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Flower umbrella called furyu-gasa. 風流傘137 viewsThese flower umbrellas are mainly for decorative purposes, to add more color to the procession.
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High-ranking court lady137 views
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Norijiri horsemen leads the procession. 乗尻137 views
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136 views
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One of six court dancers called maibito. 舞人136 views
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Main promenade of Kyoto Imperial Palace135 viewsUnless you get here early, it is very difficult to get a good place to take pictures. This promenade is the most popular place for photographers. It is most scenic because there are no distracting buildings.
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11:50 am: The procession reaches Shimogamo Shrine. 下鴨神社135 viewsShimogamo Shrine has a very elongated shrine grounds, with a long straight path to the shrine hall.
糺の森（ただすのもり）
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Procession crossing over the Kamogawa River on the Misonobashi Bridge to Kamigamo Shrine. 御薗橋135 views
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It takes about an hour to see the entire procession go by.134 viewsWall of Kyoto Imperial Palace.
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Horse track at Shimogamo Shrine. 下鴨神社134 views
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134 views
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Bridge to Shimogamo Shrine 出町橋132 views
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The procession departed Shimogamo Shrine at 2:20 pm to head for Kamigamo Shrine up river. People here waiting for the procession along the Kamogawa River. 鴨川沿いの加茂街道131 views鴨川沿いの加茂街道
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Horses going to the starting point to run down the track between the two toriis at Kamigamo Shrine.131 views
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High-ranking Lady of the Court130 views高級女官
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Kamigamo Shrine 上賀茂神社130 views
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3:30 pm: The procession reaches Kamigamo Shrine. 上賀茂神社130 views
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Flower umbrella129 viewsThese flower umbrellas are mainly for decorative purposes, to add more color to the procession.
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Court ladies called uneme. Their kimono have a blue wave design. 釆女126 views
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One of six court dancers called maibito. 舞人125 views
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The procession's highest-ranking official called Chokushi. An Imperial Messenger. 勅使123 views
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