The "Jidai Matsuri," or Festival of Ages, which showcases autumn in Kyoto with its historical tableau, took place on October 22 in Kyoto City. Under the clear autumn sky, approximately 2,000 participants in the procession spectacularly marched through the main streets of the ancient capital, and depicted the city's history from the Heian Period to the Meiji Restoration.

After a Shinto ritual at the Heian Jingu Shrine in Sakyo Ward, the "Shinko-retsu" procession with two "Horen," or imperial carriages, to which the shrine's deities were transferred, left the shrine at 9:00 a.m., heading towards the Kyoto Imperial Park in Kamigyo Ward.

The "Jidai-retsu" procession departed from the Kenrei-mon Gate of the Kyoto Imperial Palace at noon. The procession was led by the Meiji Restoration royal army band which lightly played the flutes and the drums, and followed by heroes of the final days of the Tokugawa Shogunate. A group of "daimyo," or feudal lords, of the Edo Period and military commanders and warriors of the Azuchi-Momoyama Period gallantly marched in their court costumes and suits of armor. Women also displayed elegant "Juni-hitoe," or multi-layered ceremonial robes, and beautiful short-sleeved kimono called "kosode."

The approximately two-kilometer-long procession paraded through Oike-dori Street via Karasuma-dori Street. According to the Kyoto Prefectural Police announcement at noon, 12,000 tourists and citizens lining the streets were fascinated with the procession.

The Jidai Matsuri began in 1895, the year following the 1,100th anniversary of the founding of Heian-kyo, or the ancient capital in the Heian Period. This year marks the 105th anniversary of the festival, although the procession has been cancelled some years due to war, etc.