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Jidai Matsuri (Festival of the Ages) features in the list of the three most popular festivals of Kyoto along with Aoi Matsuri and Gion Matsuri. The festival is celebrated in the month of October every year and the venue of the festival is Heian Jingu Shrine. The genesis of Jidai Matsuri can be traced back to the 19th century when the festival was conceived to boost the morale of Kyoto, after the city had lost its capital and Imperial Court to Tokyo. Jidai Matsuri (Festival of the Ages) commences with the transportation of the “mikoshi” or portable shrines of the first and the last emperors to the Old Imperial Palace. This is followed by a grand procession where more than 2000 people walk, covering a distance of 4.6 km before finally reaching the Heian Shrine. The procession begins at noon and reaches the Heian Jingu Shrine at approximately 2.30 p.m. and it is accompanied by drums and fife bands. One of the highlights of the Festival of the Ages is the costume worn by the people participating in the procession. The costumes are grand and opulent and all the costumes are representative of the different eras of Kyoto ranging from the Heian Period to the Meiji Period. Thus Jidai Matsuri is a rare opportunity to observe the costumes, accessories and Kyoto's traditional handicraft techniques from close quarters. The old streets and houses of Kyoto, along with the parade, contribute to create an ambience that will immediately transport you to the ancient past of the city. In Kyoto, transportation facilities are of good quality and during the Jidai Matsuri festival, you can easily access the Imperial Palace and the Heian Jingu Shrine. The Imperial Palace is situated in the vicinity of the Marutamachi Station on the Municipal Subway Line. The Heian Jingu Shrine is located within walking distance from the Higashiyama Station, which is just 12 minutes away from the Kyoto Station on the Karasuma Line or Tozai Line on the Kyoto City Subway. Jidai Matsuri (Festival of the Ages) is extremely popular amongst the tourists visiting Kyoto from Japan as well as other countries. In fact, the festival is ideal for the spectators coming from the foreign territories, as it enables them to know more about the cultural heritage and traditional customs of Japan.
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