On October 22, "Jidai Matsuri," or Festival of Ages, which is the last of the Kyoto's three major festivals, was celebrated in Kyoto City. Under a slightly cloudy sky, a procession of about 2,000 people marched through the ancient capital dressed in historical costumes from approximately 1,100 years of Kyoto's history, covering its establishment as the national capital to the Meiji Restoration.

After a ritual was conducted at Heian Jingu Shrine, Sakyo Ward, "Shinko-retsu," or a procession of about 400 people accompanying votive treasures and two portable shrines in which the spirits of Emperors Kammu and Komei respectively ride, departed from the Oten-mon gate, an Important Cultural Property, for Kyoto Imperial Park, Kamigyo Ward, at 9:00 a.m.

The procession of historical costumes of each era unfolds like a picturesque scroll of history throughout its approximately two-kilometer length. With loyalists of the Meiji Restoration at the head, the procession slowly started from the Kenrei-mon gate of the Kyoto Imperial Palace at noon, and proceeded toward Heian Jingu Shrine, a distance of about 4.5 kilometers. According to the noon estimate by Kyoto Prefectural Police, about 11,000 tourists enjoyed the parade of gorgeous costumes along the course.

The Festival of Ages was inaugurated in 1895 in celebration of 1,100th anniversary of the foundation of Kyoto as the national capital. This year marks the 106th festival, as it was cancelled ten times.