Jidai Matsuri 2026｜10/22(Thu)

Dates & time: October 22, 2026 (Thu) The procession sets out from the Kenreimon gate of the Kyoto Imperial Palace at 12:00 and reaches Heian Jingu around 14:30
Price & booking: Free from the roadside / paid seats from 5,000 yen Paid seats have been on sale since September 8. Buy online through Ticket Pia's English page or at Seven-Eleven stores in Japan (P-code 661-579). Seat types and prices are listed on Kyoto City Tourism Association's seat page (Japanese).
Venue & access: From the Kenreimon gate of the Kyoto Imperial Palace to Heian Jingu (procession route) For the start, Kyoto Gyoen is right by Marutamachi Station on the Karasuma subway line. For the finish, Heian Jingu and Jingu-michi are about 10 minutes' walk from Higashiyama Station on the Tozai subway line. Roads along the route are closed as the procession passes, so come by public transport.

There are 12 car parks within a 12-minute walk of From the Kenreimon gate of the Kyoto Imperial Palace to Heian Jingu (procession route), and 6 public restrooms within 8 minutes. The map shows each with its walking time.

Facility data comes from OpenStreetMap. It does not include opening hours, fees or availability.

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Why You Should Visit

The grand festival of Heian Jingu and one of Kyoto's three great festivals, alongside Aoi and Gion. Around 2,000 people in costumes spanning the Meiji Restoration back to the Heian period form a procession some 2 km long, leaving the Kyoto Imperial Palace at noon and making its way via Marutamachi, Karasuma, Oike, Kawaramachi and Sanjo streets to Heian Jingu. The eras run in reverse, so from the roadside you watch a thousand years unfold over about two hours.

Programs

Timetable & Map

NOTE

How the procession works

It began in 1895 to celebrate the founding of Heian Jingu and the 1,100th anniversary of the capital's move to Heian-kyo. The procession is run by the Heian Kosha, a citizens' organisation of eleven branches covering the whole city, with eight eras split into twenty columns, one per branch. The Edo, medieval and Heian women's columns are staffed in rotation by the regional women's association and the five hanamachi, for some 2,000 participants in all. The roughly 12,000 furnishings, costumes and ritual implements were all made on the basis of period research.

Paid seats (all reserved)

General seats (Kyoto Gyoen, Oike-dori, Jingu-michi): 7,500 yen front row / 5,000 yen behind
Manabi seats (Kyoto Gyoen, Japanese commentary): 10,500 / 8,500 yen
Otenmon Gate special seats (Jingu-michi, Japanese/English commentary): 15,500 / 13,500 yen
No parasols, umbrellas or tripods. Flash photography and pets are banned, as they can startle the oxen and horses

Not permitted

Drones may not be flown.

History Heritage Culture Art Photo Spots Events Festivals Full Day

出典: 平安神宮公式「時代祭」／京都市観光協会京都観光Navi（行列コース・有料観覧席）

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FAQ

How do I buy a paid seat? Can I buy in English?

Seats have been on sale since September 8 through Ticket Pia online, which has an English purchase page, and at Seven-Eleven stores (P-code 661-579). All seats are reserved and come with the official guidebook and a commemorative card.

Which seating area should I choose, and when does the procession pass?

The head of the procession reaches Kyoto Gyoen around 12:00, Oike-dori around 13:20 and Jingu-michi around 14:20; the procession is about 2 km long and takes about two hours to pass. The Otenmon Gate special seats on Jingu-michi come with commentary in Japanese and English.

What happens if it rains? Will my ticket be refunded?

If October 22 is rainy, the procession moves to October 23 (decided early that morning). Seat tickets are not refunded unless the procession is held on neither day. Umbrellas can't be used in the seating, so bring rainwear.

Can I see the Kurama Fire Festival on the same day?

The timings don't clash: the Jidai procession reaches Heian Jingu around 14:30, and the Kurama Fire Festival starts when the bonfires are lit at 18:00. Kurama is reached by the Eizan Railway from Demachiyanagi, where boarding restrictions on the day can mean a long wait.

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