A grand historical pageant through Kyoto’s streets featuring over 2,000 participants dressed in authentic costumes from every era of Japanese history, from the Meiji period backward to the Heian court. The procession begins at the Imperial Palace and ends at Heian Jingū shrine. Created in 1895 to celebrate Kyoto’s 1,100th anniversary as capital, the festival serves as a living timeline of Japanese civilization. The spiritual dimension lies in the belief that the spirits of past emperors and historical figures participate invisibly alongside their costumed representatives.