About the festival
Jidai Matsuri recreates Kyoto's history through costumes, equipment and a procession running backward through the eras. The parade travels from Kyoto Imperial Palace to Heian Jingu Shrine.
Who is it for?
Travelers curious about Japanese clothing, historical periods and ceremonial processions.
Photo: Corpse Reviver · CC BY-SA 3.0
Original date: 2009-10-22 13:42:24. Original image or Commons thumbnail; no additional edits.
Dates and times
22 October 2026; subject to rain postponement
Upcoming confirmed edition. Times use JST. See the official programme for session times and changes.
Venue and parade route
Kyoto · 京都
The procession starts at Kyoto Imperial Palace and finishes at Heian Jingu Shrine. Use the Kyoto tourism route map for the streets and reserved-seat areas; a direct walking route between the landmarks is not the parade route.
京都御所〜平安神宮
The map pin marks a reference venue, rather than every entrance or the full parade route.
Getting there by train or bus
- Use Marutamachi on the Karasuma subway for the palace side. For Heian Jingu, change to the Tozai Line at Karasuma Oike, get off at Higashiyama and walk about ten minutes.
What to see
- Historical costumes
- Palace departure
- Heian Jingu arrival
History and origins
It began in 1895 for Heian Jingu's founding and the 1,100th anniversary of the capital's move to Kyoto.
Planning your visit
Our editorial suggestions for planning your trip.
Choose one viewing section and watch the changing costumes pass rather than trying to follow the whole procession.
Places to visit nearby
Heian Jingu Shrine Garden
平安神宮神苑
A garden of ponds and landscaped paths beside the shrine.
Check garden admission and closing time separately; the procession's arrival may leave little time for a visit.
These stops and the suggested order are editorial recommendations. Check each venue's opening hours and festival-day road closures before travelling.
Jidai Matsuri: common questions
When is Jidai Matsuri?
22 October 2026; subject to rain postponement These dates refer to the stated edition; they do not confirm dates for a later year. Times are Japan Standard Time (JST).
Where does Jidai Matsuri take place?
The procession starts at Kyoto Imperial Palace and finishes at Heian Jingu Shrine. Use the Kyoto tourism route map for the streets and reserved-seat areas; a direct walking route between the landmarks is not the parade route.
How do I get to Jidai Matsuri by public transport?
Use Marutamachi on the Karasuma subway for the palace side. For Heian Jingu, change to the Tozai Line at Karasuma Oike, get off at Higashiyama and walk about ten minutes.
Should I watch from the palace or the shrine?
The palace gives you the departure section and Heian Jingu the arrival section. Choose a viewing location and station before traveling.
Official sources
- Festival and visitor guide 1 (kyoto.travel) ↗
- Festival and visitor guide 2 (www.heianjingu.or.jp) ↗
- Festival and visitor guide 3 (www.heianjingu.or.jp) ↗
Sources reviewed: .