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Aoi Festival in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan, May 15 Kyodo - People dressed in court-style attire from the Heian period (794-1185) leave Kyoto Imperial Palace on May 15, 2026, for a parade with a court carriage during the annual Aoi Festival, one of the three main festivals of the ancient Japanese capital. (Kyodo)

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Aoi Festival in Kyoto

People dressed in court-style attire from the Heian period (794-1185) leave Kyoto Imperial Palace on May 15, 2026, for a parade with a court carriage during the annual Aoi Festival, one of the three main festivals of the ancient Japanese capital.

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Order of Culture Award

Kyoto University distinguished professor Susumu Kitagawa, a co-winner of this year's Nobel Prize in Chemistry (R) receives the Order of Culture, Japan's top cultural award, from Emperor Naruhito at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Nov. 3, 2025. (Pool photo)

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Order of Culture Award

Kyoto University distinguished professor Susumu Kitagawa, a co-winner of this year's Nobel Prize in Chemistry, attends a press conference in Tokyo on Nov. 3, 2025, after receiving the Order of Culture, Japan's top cultural award, at an Imperial Palace ceremony.

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Order of Culture Award

Kyoto University distinguished professor Susumu Kitagawa, a co-winner of this year's Nobel Prize in Chemistry, attends a press conference in Tokyo on Nov. 3, 2025, after receiving the Order of Culture, Japan's top cultural award, at an Imperial Palace ceremony.

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Aoi Festival in Kyoto

People dressed in court-style attire from the Heian period (794-1185) leave Kyoto Imperial Palace for a parade with a court carriage during the annual Aoi Festival, one of the three main festivals of the ancient Japanese capital, on May 15, 2025.

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Aoi festival in Kyoto

A palanquin carrying a woman playing the role of the Saio-dai priestess, clad in a 12-layer traditional Japanese kimono, leaves Kyoto Imperial Palace for a parade during the annual Aoi Festival, one of the three main festivals of the ancient Japanese capital, on May 15, 2025.

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Aoi festival in Kyoto

A palanquin carrying a woman playing the role of the Saio-dai priestess, clad in a 12-layer traditional Japanese kimono, leaves Kyoto Imperial Palace for a parade during the annual Aoi Festival, one of the three main festivals of the ancient Japanese capital, on May 15, 2025.

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Aoi festival in Kyoto

A woman playing the role of the Saio-dai priestess, clad in a 12-layer traditional Japanese kimono, is seated in a palanquin at Kyoto Imperial Palace for a parade during the annual Aoi Festival, one of the three main festivals of the ancient Japanese capital, on May 15, 2024.

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Aoi festival in Kyoto

A woman playing the role of the Saio-dai priestess, clad in a 12-layer traditional Japanese kimono, is carried in a palanquin at Kyoto Imperial Palace for a parade during the annual Aoi Festival, one of the three main festivals of the ancient Japanese capital, on May 15, 2024.

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Horse racing: Justin Palace claims Spring Tenno-sho

Second-favorite Justin Palace, ridden by Christophe Lemaire, claims his first Grade 1 victory in the Spring Tenno-sho at Kyoto Racecourse on April 30, 2023.

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Horse racing: Justin Palace claims Spring Tenno-sho

Second-favorite Justin Palace (far R), ridden by Christophe Lemaire, races en route to winning the spring Tenno-sho for his first Grade I victory at Kyoto Racecourse on April 30, 2023.

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Horse racing: Justin Palace claims spring Tenno-sho

Jockey Christophe Lemaire celebrates after riding second-favorite Justin Palace to victory in the Spring Tenno-sho at Kyoto Racecourse on April 30, 2023.

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Horse racing: Justin Palace claims Spring Tenno-sho

Second-favorite Justin Palace (L), ridden by Christophe Lemaire, races en route to winning the spring Tenno-sho for his first Grade I victory at Kyoto Racecourse on April 30, 2023.

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Horse racing: Justin Palace claims spring Tenno-sho

Jockey Christophe Lemaire celebrates after riding second-favorite Justin Palace to victory in the Spring Tenno-sho at Kyoto Racecourse on April 30, 2023.

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Horse racing: Justin Palace claims spring Tenno-sho

Jockey Christophe Lemaire celebrates after riding second-favorite Justin Palace to victory in the Spring Tenno-sho at Kyoto Racecourse on April 30, 2023.

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Horse racing: Justin Palace claims spring Tenno-sho

Jockey Christophe Lemaire celebrates after riding second-favorite Justin Palace to victory in the Spring Tenno-sho at Kyoto Racecourse on April 30, 2023.

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Horse racing: Justin Palace claims Spring Tenno-sho

Second-favorite Justin Palace (far R), ridden by Christophe Lemaire, races en route to winning the spring Tenno-sho for his first Grade I victory at Kyoto Racecourse on April 30, 2023.

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Horse racing: Justin Palace claims Spring Tenno-sho

Second-favorite Justin Palace (L), ridden by Christophe Lemaire, races en route to winning the spring Tenno-sho for his first Grade I victory at Kyoto Racecourse on April 30, 2023.

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Horse racing: Justin Palace claims Spring Tenno-sho

Second-favorite Justin Palace, ridden by Christophe Lemaire, claims his first Grade 1 victory in the Spring Tenno-sho at Kyoto Racecourse on April 30, 2023.

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Powerful typhoon aftermath

KYOTO, Japan, Sept. 5 Kyodo - A man measures a decorative metal fitting belonging to Ninomaru Palace, a Japanese national treasure, at UNESCO World Heritage-listed Nijo Castle in Kyoto on Sept. 5, 2018, after the metal part fell off in strong winds brought by powerful Typhoon Jebi that hit western Japan the previous day.

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Tourists visit Kyoto Imperial Palace

KYOTO, Japan - Tourists visit the Kyoto Imperial Palace in Kyoto on Oct. 30, 2014, as the palace is open to the public through Nov. 5. The palace used to be the resident of the Imperial family until 1868, when the emperor and the capital moved from Kyoto to Tokyo.

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Tourists visit Kyoto Imperial Palace

KYOTO, Japan - Tourists visit the Kyoto Imperial Palace in Kyoto on Oct. 30, 2014, as the palace is open to the public through Nov. 5. The palace used to be the resident of the Imperial family until 1868, when the emperor and the capital moved from Kyoto to Tokyo.

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'Festival of Ages' parade leaves Kyoto Imperial Palace

KYOTO, Japan - The "Jidai Matsuri" (Festival of the Ages) parade of people dressed in historical attire leaves the Kyoto Imperial Palace in the western Japan city on Oct. 22, 2014, in an annual event commemorating the foundation of the ancient Japanese capital.

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JA group promotes Kyoto-raised farm produce in Istanbul

ISTANBUL, Turkey - Women from the Kyoto chapter of the Japan Agricultural Cooperatives (JA) group make a sales pitch for vegetables and other farm products grown in Kyoto Prefecture at a dinner party at the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul on Aug. 26, 2014, to mark the 90th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Japan and Turkey.

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Kyoto food promoted for Turkish cuisine

ISTANBUL, Turkey - Turkish cuisine made from vegetables and beef produced in Kyoto Prefecture, western Japan, is served for dinner at the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul on Aug. 26, 2014. Some 270 Turkish government officials were invited to the event marking the 90th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Japan and Turkey.

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Tokyo governor visits Kyoto State Guest House

KYOTO, Japan - Tokyo Gov. Yoichi Masuzoe meets reporters at the Kyoto State Guest House in Kyoto on July 4, 2014. Masuzoe expressed his desire to build a Japanese-style guest palace in Tokyo before the 2020 Olympic Games.

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Ancient court-style parade held in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan - A procession of people dressed as nobles in ancient court-style attire from the Heian era (794-1192) departs from the Old Imperial Palace in Kyoto, western Japan, on May 15, 2014, for an 8-kilometer parade during the Aoi Festival, one of three major festivals in the old Japanese capital.

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Former imperial residence in Kyoto

OSAKA, Japan - File photo taken in January 2013 shows Kyoto Gyoen in the city of Kyoto. Kyoto prefectural government officials said Jan. 29, 2014, that the park will be declared a base for the Self-Defense Forces, police and fire services in the event of natural disasters. The Kyoto Imperial Palace (upper L in the park) and the Kyoto State Guest House (upper R in the park) are exempt from the plan. The palace was the main imperial residence until Emperor Meiji shifted to Tokyo in 1869.

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Jidai Matsuri festival in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan - People wearing historical costumes parade after leaving the Kyoto Imperial Palace for the Heian Shrine in Kyoto on the afternoon of Oct. 22, 2013, to mark the annual Jidai Matsuri (Festival of Eras), one of the three biggest festivals in the ancient Japanese capital.

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Jidai Matsuri festival in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan - People wearing historical costumes parade after leaving the Kyoto Imperial Palace for the Heian Shrine in Kyoto on the afternoon of Oct. 22, 2013, to mark the annual Jidai Matsuri (Festival of Eras), one of the three biggest festivals in the ancient Japanese capital.

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Jidai Matsuri festival in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan - People wearing historical costumes parade after leaving the Kyoto Imperial Palace for the Heian Shrine in Kyoto on the afternoon of Oct. 22, 2013, to mark the annual Jidai Matsuri (Festival of Eras), one of the three biggest festivals in the ancient Japanese capital.

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Jidai Matsuri festival in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan - People wearing historical costumes parade after leaving the Kyoto Imperial Palace for the Heian Shrine in Kyoto on the afternoon of Oct. 22, 2013, to mark the annual Jidai Matsuri (Festival of Eras), one of the three biggest festivals in the ancient Japanese capital.

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Jidai Matsuri festival in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan - People wearing historical costumes parade after leaving the Heian Shrine for the Kyoto Imperial Palace in Kyoto on the morning of Oct. 22, 2013, to mark the annual Jidai Matsuri (Festival of Eras), one of the three biggest festivals in the ancient Japanese capital.

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Jidai Matsuri festival in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan - People wearing historical costumes parade after leaving the Heian Shrine for the Kyoto Imperial Palace in Kyoto on the morning of Oct. 22, 2013, to mark the annual Jidai Matsuri (Festival of Eras), one of the three biggest festivals in the ancient Japanese capital.

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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.

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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.

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Jidai Matsuri festival in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan - People dressed in historical costumes parade after leaving the Kyoto Imperial Palace for the Heian Shrine in Kyoto on the afternoon of Oct. 22, 2012, to mark the annual Jidai Matsuri (Festival of Eras).

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Jidai Matsuri festival in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan - People dressed in historical costumes parade after leaving the Kyoto Imperial Palace for the Heian Shrine in Kyoto on the afternoon of Oct. 22, 2012, to mark the annual Jidai Matsuri (Festival of Eras).

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Jidai Matsuri festival in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan - People wearing historical costumes parade after leaving the Heian Shrine for the Kyoto Imperial Palace in Kyoto on the morning of Oct. 22, 2012, to mark the annual Jidai Matsuri (Festival of Eras).

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Jidai Matsuri festival in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan - People wearing historical costumes parade after leaving the Heian Shrine for the Kyoto Imperial Palace in Kyoto on the morning of Oct. 22, 2012, to mark the annual Jidai Matsuri (Festival of Eras).

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Kyoto Imperial Palace

KYOTO, Japan - Many tourists visit Kyoto Imperial Palace in Kyoto after it was opened to the public in a semiannual event on April 4, 2012.

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Kyoto Imperial Palace

KYOTO, Japan - Many tourists visit Kyoto Imperial Palace in Kyoto after it was opened to the public in a semiannual event on April 4, 2012.

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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.

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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.

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Emperor, empress visit Kyoto Botanical Garden

KYOTO, Japan - Japanese Emperor Akihito (L) and Empress Michiko (R) greet people gathering to welcome the couple at the Kyoto Botanical Garden on Nov. 19, 2009. The couple visited the botanical garden for the first time after attending a meeting at Kyoto Imperial Palace the previous day on the occasion of the emperor's 20th enthronement anniversary.