Let’s go to the “Kyoto Festival” which represents Kyoto in autumn!
The “Era Festival” held in October every year is a traditional event counted as one of the three major festivals in Kyoto. A gorgeous festival like watching a historical picture scroll in Kyoto can be enjoyed by those who like kimonos!
Here are some brief explanations and highlights about the festival.
This year is an exception! 2019 is “October 26”
There is only a big festival, and every year the starting place of Kyoto Imperial Palace is visited by many tourists from home and abroad.There are many people who take a rest on Saturday, so it is expected to be more crowded than usual.
2,000 people walk from Kyoto Gyoen to Heian Shrine
The period festival started in the Meiji period to celebrate the founding of the Heian Shrine.The Emperor moved to Edo during the Meiji Restoration, and there was an intention to regain vitality in Kyoto, which had been declining.It is because the people of Kyoto are united to create a strong awareness of the pride of the city.
Festivals from the Heian-Kyoto capital to the Meiji Restoration are lined up with people wearing costumes that symbolize each era, revealing the long history of Kyoto.Departing from Kyoto Imperial Palace, go through Oike-dori and Sanjo-dori and walk around the center of Kyoto slowly to Heian Shrine.Participating in the queue is 2,000 Kyoto citizens, 2 kilometers away.There are few drums, dances, and other noises, and the state of continuation can be said to be elegant and Kyoto-like.
Accurately.Focus on faithfully reproduced costumes
The period festivals reproduce the history “visually” and the costumes are made faithfully.
For example, the female singer of the same Heian period, Murasaki Shikibu and Ono Komachi seemed to be similar in appearance, but Murasaki Shikibu was wearing semi-formal dress “Kochigi”, whereas Kiyosakuwa was in full dress I am wearing twelve.
In addition to dressing, kimono materials and techniques, makeup, and hairstyles are reproduced as accurately as possible with the advice of experts.
The ability to do this is a technique that can only be achieved in Kyoto, where various traditional techniques have been preserved.
Furthermore, not only aristocrats and samurai will appear.It is also interesting to see people wearing work clothes such as “Shirakawa-me”, who sells flowers in her head, and “Oharame,” who sells bags.
An active Geiko dancer also participates and adds flowers
Kyoto citizens are participating in the festival, including Geisha and Maiko.
There are five flower districts in Kyoto:Gion Kobe, Gion East, Pontocho, Kaminochiken, and Miyagawacho, and two of them are going to take part every year.
Geiko dances a woman’s line in the Heian period.The cheering from the audience can be seen in the gorgeous appearances of twelve simple women such as Kiyodo Nana, Murasaki Shikibu and Ono Komachi.
Especially, the one that attracts attention is Mae Gozen.You will be jealous and admired by the women who are carried by the shrine, wearing armor and straddling horses.
Reserving paid seats is recommended if you want to enjoy 100%
It is an era dress that understands occupations and ranks, but it may be difficult to notice the difference without prior knowledge.If you want to enjoy the details, it is recommended to watch at the paid seats.There are seats with pamphlets and seats that can be seen live with wireless earphone guides, so you can find out about the secrets of costumes that you didn’t know!
Era festival is a real and luxurious festival like a moving museum
The Gion Festival, held every summer, is called a “moving museum” because of the beauty of the azure and mountains, but the period festival is like a “moving museum” that shows the history of Kyoto at a glance.If you are interested in kimono, it will be more fun to see what the costumes of each period look like.
Would you like to go to the annual festival?
A writer living in Kansai. I like vintage fashion, and as an extension of it, enjoy kimono as everyday wear. I particularly like antique kimonos in the early Showa era where there are many bold colors. Because he was an editor / writer for Kyoto guidebooks and information magazines, he is also familiar with Kyoto\\\'s culture and gourmet.
