This traditional festival has been held for over 100 years since it was first started in 1895 to commemorate the 1,100th year since the relocation of the capital in the Heian period. Together with the Aoi Festival and the Gion Festival, the Jidai Festival is considered one of Kyoto's three greatest festivals. The main event is the historical costume parade-lead by performers dressed as ancient soldiers playing flutes and drums, some 2,000 people forming a line two kilometers long parade forth wearing historical costumes from the Meiji to the ancient Heian period. Many people from around the country as well as the world come to enjoy the sight.
Every year, at the end of October, Imari Shrine holds a festival of palanquin shrines, also known as Imari Kunchi. The white and red portable shrines parade down the bamboo grass and flower decorated streets, cleansing the area of evil. These shrines are then followed by rough palanquin shrines and floats which are carried by lively men. Then three taiko drums sound out ton-ten-ton and a splendid ceremonial duel unfolds between them. The Kawa Otoshi (dropping in the river) occurs in the evening of the final day, where the palanquin shrines and floats come together and are thrown into the river, then pulled back out by the men.
