Fire festival in Wakayama Prefecture

Fire festival in Wakayama Prefecture

SHINGU, Japan - Torch-bearing participants run down a path through the red-lacquered "torii" gate of the Kamikura Shrine during the Oto Fire Festival in Shingu, Wakayama Prefecture, in western Japan on Feb. 6, 2014. The ancient New Year's ritual dates back 1,400 years.

Fire festival in Wakayama Prefecture

Fire festival in Wakayama Prefecture

SHINGU, Japan - Torch-bearing participants run down an entrance path from the Kamikura Shrine during the Oto Fire Festival in Shingu, Wakayama Prefecture, in western Japan on Feb. 6, 2014. The ancient New Year's ritual dates back 1,400 years.

Aoi festival in Kyoto

Aoi festival in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan - Men dressed as nobles of the Heian Period (794-1185) move in a procession during the annual Aoi Matsuri, one of the three main festivals in Kyoto, in the western city on May 15, 2013. Some 500 participants walked around 8 kilometers from Kyoto Imperial Palace to Shimogamo and Kamigamo shrines during the festival dating back 1,400 years.

Aoi festival in Kyoto

Aoi festival in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan - Men dressed as nobles of the Heian Period (794-1185) move in a procession with a decorated ox cart during the annual Aoi Matsuri, one of the three main festivals in Kyoto, in the western city on May 15, 2013. Some 500 participants walked around 8 kilometers from Kyoto Imperial Palace to Shimogamo and Kamigamo shrines during the festival dating back 1,400 years.

Aoi festival in Kyoto

Aoi festival in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan - Participants in the annual Aoi Matsuri, one of the three main festivals of Kyoto, move in a procession in the western Japanese city on May 16, 2012. Some 500 participants, dressed as nobles of the Heian Period (794-1185), walked with decorated ox carts and horses around eight kilometers from Kyoto Imperial Palace to Shimogamo and Kamigamo shrines, during the ancient capital's major festival dating back 1,400 years.

Aoi festival in Kyoto

Aoi festival in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan - Participants in the annual Aoi Matsuri, one of the three main festivals of Kyoto, move in a procession in the western Japanese city on May 16, 2012. Some 500 participants, dressed as nobles of the Heian Period (794-1185), walked with decorated ox carts and horses around eight kilometers from Kyoto Imperial Palace to Shimogamo and Kamigamo shrines, during the ancient capital's major festival dating back 1,400 years.

Aoi festival in Kyoto

Aoi festival in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan - Participants in the annual Aoi Matsuri, one of the three main festivals of Kyoto, move in a procession in the western Japanese city on May 16, 2012. Some 500 participants, dressed as nobles of the Heian Period (794-1185), walked with decorated ox carts and horses around eight kilometers from Kyoto Imperial Palace to Shimogamo and Kamigamo shrines, during the ancient capital's major festival dating back 1,400 years.

Aoi festival in Kyoto

Aoi festival in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan - Participants in the annual Aoi Matsuri, one of the three main festivals of Kyoto, move in a procession in the western Japanese city on May 16, 2012. Some 500 participants, dressed as nobles of the Heian Period (794-1185), walked with decorated ox carts and horses around eight kilometers from Kyoto Imperial Palace to Shimogamo and Kamigamo shrines, during the ancient capital's major festival dating back 1,400 years.

Kyoto's Aoi Festival

Kyoto's Aoi Festival

KYOTO, Japan - Men dressed as public servants from the Heian Period (794-1185), walk with a decorated ox cart during Kyoto's Aoi Festival on May 15, 2010. Around 500 men wearing costumes from the period took part in the parade, which travels around eight kilometers from Kyoto Imperial Palace to Shimogamo and Kamigamo shrines, during the ancient capital's major festival dating back 1,400 years.

Aoi Matsuri dating back 1,400 years held in Kyoto

Aoi Matsuri dating back 1,400 years held in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan - About 500 participants and around 40 horses and cows parade in the Aoi Matsuri (festival), which dates back 1,400 years, in Kyoto on May 15, 2010. The participants, dressed as nobles of the Heian Period (794-1185), walked around eight kilometers from Kyoto Imperial Palace to Shimogamo and Kamigamo shrines, watched by about 26,000 people on the parade route.

Aoi Matsuri dating back 1,400 years held in Kyoto

Aoi Matsuri dating back 1,400 years held in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan - About 500 participants in the Aoi Matsuri (festival), which has a history of 1,400 years, parade through Kyoto on May 15. The participants, dressed like nobles of the Heian Period (794-1185), go about 8 kilometers from the Kyoto Imperial Palace to Shimogamo and Kamigamo shrines.

Aoi Matsuri dating back 1,400 years held in Kyoto

Aoi Matsuri dating back 1,400 years held in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan - About 500 participants in the Aoi Matsuri (festival) which has a history of 1,400 years process through Kyoto on May 15. The participants, dressed like nobles of the Heian Period (794-1185), are leaving the Kyoto Imperial Palace.

Aoi festival dating back 1,400 years held in Kyoto

Aoi festival dating back 1,400 years held in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan - Some 500 participants in the Aoi Matsuri (festival), which has a history of 1,400 years, process through Kyoto on May 15. The participants, dressed like nobles of the Heian Period (794-1185), were leaving Kyoto Palace (background) on their way to Kami-Gamo Shrine.