The Aoi Matsuri procession, one of the three main annual festivals of Kyoto, will be held on May 15. It consists of local participants, dressed in elegant attire from the Heian period (794-1185), that parade through Kyoto. This festival has famously been depicted in the eleventh-century literary masterpiece – the “Tale of Genji” by Murasaki Shikibu, considered to be the oldest novel in the world.
The Kyoto City Tourism Association offers paid viewing seats for the procession. A part of the proceeds from their sales will be used to preserve and support this festival.
Information regarding whether the procession will be held as scheduled or postponed will be announced around 6 PM on the day before the event.
1. Sales period and purchase method
General sales period: From April 1 (Wed), 10 AM (JST), 2026
How to purchase: Online, through the Ticket Pia website
Click here to purchase the ticket online
*Other processing fees may apply.
2. Number of seats
Kyoto Imperial Palace: Approx. 6,600 seats (south side of the Kenreimon Gate)
Approach to Shimogamo-jinja Shrine: Approx. 500 seats (front approach)
Total: Approx. 7,100 seats
*The number of seats for sale may change depending on the number of tickets sold.
3. Location of the procession viewing seats
4. Price
All seats are reserved and come with the official guidebook, live commentary and a commemorative card. Price shown in the table below includes tax.
| Seat type | Price | Remarks |
| Regular seat (front row) | ¥6,500 |
|
| Regular seat (second row onwards) | ¥5,000 |
|
| “Royal Seat” (front row) | ¥20,000 |
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| “Royal Seat” (second row onwards) | ¥18,000 |
|
*You must bring your own internet-connected smartphone or tablet, as well as headphones, to be able to listen to the live commentary.
- No app download or account registration is necessary, the commentary will be available through a web browser.
- The estimated date usage is equivalent to approx. 30-60 seconds of a YouTube video.
About the "Royal Seat"
Photo of the “Royal Seats” (for illustrative purposes only)
Exclusive seating located closest to the Kenreimon Gate of Kyoto Imperial Palace. Set on tiered platforms for clear viewing from every row, these seats include live commentary in Japanese or English by a specialist narrator via earphones*, as well as a commemorative folding fan and hollyhock hat (aoi katsura).
*Earphones will not be provided on-site, so please make sure to bring your own, alongside an internet-connected smartphone or tablet.
5. Advisory notes
- In case of rain, the procession will be postponed to May 16th. The decision is to be made around 6 PM on the day prior.
- Make sure to bring your smartphone or other internet-connected device and headphones. If you don’t, you will not be able to listen to the live commentary.
- We recommend using hats, etc. to shield yourself from the heat.
- The use of parasols, umbrellas, and tripods will not be allowed in the viewing seats, as it may block the view of other spectators.
- Please bring a raincoat in case it begins to rain during the event.
- Taking flash photography and bringing pets is prohibited due to the possibility of causing oxen and horses to run loose.
- This ticket is non-refundable unless the festival itself is canceled. Refunds will only be processed at the point of purchase. Ticket issuance fees and delivery charges related to payment transactions are non-refundable.
- Please follow the instructions of the staff. Failure to comply will result in forced removal from the premises. In such cases, there will be no refund of tickets or any other compensation.
- Please note that Kyoto City Tourism Association cannot accept any responsibility for damages that occur within the seating area.
6. Commemorative goods
⑴ Official Aoi Matsuri guidebook
This guidebook contains detailed illustrations of the procession, the court attire, and the ritual implements, accompanied by explanations about each role of the participants. Viewers can use it to deepen their understanding of the festival. (Size B5, 18 pages)
(2) Aoi Matsuri Festival commemorative card
A commemorative card featuring the festival’s namesake plant, two-leaf aoi (hollyhock), and a scene of the procession, painted by Nyofu Yasukawa—a painter for shrines and temples who has been given the title of “Master Craftsman of Kyoto.”
Image used for illustrative purposes
About the Aoi Matsuri procession
Aoi Matsuri is an annual festival of Shimogamo-jinja and Kamigamo-jinja Shrines with origins dating back approximately 1,500 years.
Famously depicted in Murasaki Shikibu’s “Tale of Genji,” this festival is famous for its grand procession held on May 15, when participants dressed in Heian period attire parade eight kilometers through Kyoto’s streets during the season of vibrant new greenery.
For more information, see below:
Season ＆ Festivals / Aoi Matsuri Festival
Saiō-dai (honorary priestess)
Konoetsukai-dai (deputy imperial messenger)
