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Aoi Matsuri 2025 route map (Procession of Roto-no-gi)
Aoi Matsuri route map
Aoi Matsuri route map is introduced on Google Maps. Aoi Matsuri route is about 8 km long, starting from Kyoto Imperial Palace (Kyoto Gyoen) and going around Shimogamo Shrine and Kamigamo Shrine. The procession (Roto-no-gi) starts from Kyoto Imperial Palace (Kyoto Gyoen) to Shimogamo Shrine in the morning, and then goes from Shimogamo Shrine to Kamigamo Shrine in the afternoon. In the procession (Roto-no-gi), there are about 500 people, about 40 horses, 4 oxen, 2 ox carts, and 1 koshi (palanquin).
- The procession (Roto-no-gi) Schedule
- Aoi Matsuri route map
- Kyoto Imperial Palace (Kyoto Gyoen)
- Shimogamo Shrine
- Kamigamo Shrine
【The procession (Roto-no-gi) 2025 Schedule (confirmation required)】
The procession (Roto-no-gi) will be held on Thursday, May 15th, 2025, at 10:30. However, in case of bad weather, it will be postponed to the following Friday, May 16th. In addition, Roto-no-gi may be canceled if it rains during the procession.
【Aoi Matsuri route map】
In the morning, the procession goes from Kyoto Imperial Palace (Kyoto Gyoen) to Shimogamo Shrine, and then the ritual (Shato-no-gi) is held at Shimogamo Shrine. In the afternoon, the procession goes from Shimogamo Shrine to Kamigamo Shrine, and then the ritual (Shato-no-gi) is held at Kamigamo Shrine.
●Morning Timetable:Kyoto Imperial Palace (departure at 10:30) → Sakaimachi-gomon → Marutamachi-dori (around 11:00) → Kawaramachi-dori → Shimogamo Shrine (arrival around 11:40)
●Afternoon Timetable:Shimogamo Shrine (departure at 14:20) → Shimogamo-hondori → Rakuhoku High School (around 14:40) → Kitaoji-dori → Kitaoji Bridge (around 14:55) → Kamo-gawa River embankment → Kamigamo Shrine (arrival around 15:30)
【Procession departs from Kyoto Imperial Palace at 10:30】
The starting point of Aoi Matsuri route is Kyoto Imperial Palace (Kyoto Gyoen). The procession starts from in front of Kenrei-mon Gate at the southern end of Kyoto Imperial Palace and proceeds south along Kenreimon-mae-odori to Sakaimachi-gomon Gate at the southern end of Kyoto Gyoen.
●Kyoto Imperial Palace was the site of the Tsuchimikado Higashinotoindono, a temporary sato-dairi (temporary palace) that replaced the dairi when the capital was moved to Heian-kyo in 794. Kenrei-mon Gate is the main southern gate of the Kyoto Imperial Palace and is considered the most prestigious gate.
●Kyoto Gyoen was the site of up to 200 residences of the imperial family and court nobles during the Edo period (1603-1868). Sakaimachi-gomon (gate) is one of the nine gates of Kyoto Gyoen, and the Sakaimachi Monban-sho is positioned as the gate guard station for the main gate.
【Procession arrives at Marutamachi-dori around 11:00】
The procession goes east on Marutamachi-dori from Sakaimachi-gomon (gate) in Kyoto Gyoen to the intersection of Kawaramachi and Marutamachi.
●Marutamachi-dori runs from east to west on the south side of Kyoto Gyoen from Shishigatani-dori at the east end to Saga Shakado Daimon-cho at the west end. The name Marutamachi-dori comes from the fact that there used to be many lumber merchants along the Nishibori-gawa River.
【Intersection of Kawaramachi and Marutamachi】
The procession goes north along Kawaramachi-dori from the intersection of Kawaramachi and Marutamachi to near the Demachi Bridge over the Kamo-gawa River.
●Kawaramachi-dori runs from north to south on the east side of Kyoto Gyoen from the Aoi Bridge at the north end to Jujo-dori at the south end. Kawaramachi-dori was built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi when he was redesigning Kyoto, and its name comes from the fact that it used to be the bed of the Kamo-gawa River.
【Procession arrives at Shimogamo Shrine around 11:40】
The relay point of Aoi Matsuri route is Shimogamo Shrine. The procession arrives at Shimogamo Shrine via the Demachi Bridge, Shimogamo Higashi-dori, and Tadasu-no-Mori Forest. Shato-no-gi (ritual) is held at Shimogamo Shrine after arrival.
●Shimogamo Shrine is said to have originated during the reign of the first Emperor Jinmu (660 B.C.-582 B.C.), when the deity Kamo-Taketsunumi-no-mikoto descended on Mt. Mikage-yama, located at the western foot of Mt. Hiei-zan. In the oldest official history of Japan, “Nihon-Shoki” in the article of February, the 2nd year of Emperor Jinmu (659 B.C.), it is written that the clan that enshrined Kamo-Taketsunumi-no-mikoto was the Kamo clan. Later, in 580 B.C., miare ritual was held, and in 28 B.C., the shrine was said to have consecrated a sacred treasure.
●Shato-no-gi (ritual) is the most important event of Aoi Matsuri. At Shato-no-gi (ritual), an imperial envoy reads the Saimon and Senmyou and dedicates the heimotsu (offerings).
【Procession departs from Shimogamo Shrine at 14:20】
After Shato-no-gi (ritual) at Shimogamo Shrine, the procession heads north along Shimogamo-hondori on the west side of Shimogamo Shrine.
●Shimogamo-hondori runs from north to south on the west side of Shimogamo Shrine, and is connected to Kawaramachi-dori by the Aoi Bridge over the Kamo-gawa River.
【Procession arrives at the intersection of Shimogamo-hondori and Kitaoji-dori at about 14:40】
The procession goes west along Kitaoji-dori from the intersection of Shimogamo-hondori and Kitaoji-dori (in front of Rakuhoku High School).
●Kitaoji-dori runs from east to west from Shirakawa-dori at the east end to Nishioji-dori at the west end. Kitaoji-dori was developed in 1925 as the outer line of the city.
【Procession passes Kitaoji Bridge at about 14:55】
The procession crosses the Kitaoji Bridge over the Kamo-gawa River and goes north along the Kamo-gawa River embankment on the west (right) side of the Kamo-gawa River.
●The Kamo-gawa River (賀茂川) is the name of the upper reaches of the Kamo-gawa River (鴨川), a first-class river in the Yodo-gawa River system. The Kamo-gawa River originates from Mt. Sajikiga-dake, about 896 meters above sea level, in Kita-ku, Kyoto City. In Aoi Matsuri, misogi (purification ceremony) was once held in the Kamo-gawa River.
【Procession arrives at Kamigamo Shrine around 15:30】
The end point of Aoi Matsuri route is Kamigamo Shrine. The procession arrives at Kamigamo Shrine from the bank of the Kamo-gawa River via the Misobashi Bridge over the Kamo-gawa River and Ichi-no-Torii Gate. Shato-no-gi (ritual) is held at Kamigamo Shrine after arrival.
●Kamigamo Shrine is said to have its origins in ancient times, when the enshrined deity, Kamo Wakeikaduchi-no-mikoto, descended to Koyama, located north-northwest of the present shrine building. It is said that Kamo Jingu Shrine was built in 677, and Kamigamo Shrine was founded before that time. Kamigamo Shrine, along with Shimogamo Shrine, enshrines the clan deity of Kamo, and together they were called Kamo Shrine.
●Shato-no-gi (ritual) is the most important event of Aoi Matsuri. At Shato-no-gi (ritual), an imperial envoy reads the Saimon and Senmyou and dedicates the heimotsu (offerings).
【Aoi Matsuri route map remarks】
Always check with the organizer for event information. Information on this site is for reference only. Contents of the event may have changed.
葵祭2025日程(行事・・・)