Kyoto in May
May is a good month to visit Kyoto in terms of mild climate and many sunny days. So the city will have lots of events as well. You can check out Kyoto’s official event calendar here. Here we would like to introduce some of the events in Kyoto in May that we especially want to recommend including one of the most loved festival by locals.
Aoi Festival
Aoi-Festival is a common feature festival of early summer in Kyoto. It is one of the Kyoto’s three major festivals.( May:Aoi-Festival, July:Gion Festival, October:Jidai-Festival). In addition, it is said that Aoi-Festival is the most elegant festival in Kyoto.
The highlight of this festival is held on May 15, the procession centered by Chokushidai,
And Saio prosseion will start from Shimogamo Shrine and go to Kamigamo Shrine.
The total amount of people attend these two procession’s will be about 500 people, wearing aristocratic costumes,
and they will walk about 8 kilometers, riding on horses and pulling on oxcarts. The journey of procession takes about one hour and it makes you feel like you are back in old time. You cannot miss the noble costumes and the stalls are beautiful and the Saio procession are particularly gorgeous.
If you want to see this processions the nice place to see is between Shimogamo Shrine and Kyoto-Gosho (Kyoto Imperial palace). There are also some paid reservation seats.
・Date:15,May 2019 10:30～
・Fee:Reservation seats … 2700 yen
・Place: 10:30…Kyoto-Gosho
11:40…Shimogamo-Shrine
15:30…Kamigamo-Shrine
Fujinomori Festival
Fujinomori Shrine is known as a God of victory. Fujinomori-Festival is a spring festival that is held from 9th century. Mikoshi (a potable shrine) and procession of samurai will parade around the shrine.
Last day of the festival, there will be a performance of horsemanship. They oblation the performance to the god and pray for safety for a year. The performance will be passing through the reins, handstand and other techniques riding on the sprinting horse.
・Date: 1,May 2019 – 5,May 2019
(Horse performance will be 5,May 2019 13:00〜, 15:00〜)
・Location： Fujinomori Shrine
Toji Temple Garakuta/Handmade Market
Well this market is not only in May but first Sunday in every month. Visiting handmade market is always good fun. In Kyoto you will be able to find antique Kimono. At this market there will be a Handmade-shop markets and antique-shop markets. Since it is not that crowded, you can see lots of shops in your own pace.
When you are visiting Kyoto, why don’t you join Kyoto Insider Sake Experience and learn about sake? You can learn a lot about Japan’s culture and history of Kyoto as well. In addition to it, of course on our tour you can learn the difference among various kinds of sake. And you will be able to find your most favorite bottle!
