Awata Matsuri

Awata Matsuri is the largest annual festival at Kyoto’s Awata Shrine, founded during the Heian period. This sacred autumnal event is held to ward off epidemics and disease, includes several rituals: the Shinko-sai (Procession Festival) and Kanko-sai (Return Festival) held annually on Sports Day (second Monday in October), the preliminary Shutsugyo-sai, the preceding night’s impressive Yowatari Shinji, and the main festival held on October 15th. Collectively, these events form Awata Matsuri.
With a history spanning over 1,000 years, Awata Matsuri remains a historic-class event. Many have noted the festival’s class high enough to stand in when the Gion Festival could not be held over the Muromachi Period.

Catch a glimpse of the Yowatari Shinji night parade to find “Awata Daitoro” massive illuminated floats that are often likened to the famed Nebuta floats. These vibrant lantern floats, created by students from Kyoto University of the Arts, dramatically light up the nighttime streets.

Shinko-sai is one even that features elaborately decorated sword-like festival works called Kenboko, considered the original form of the floats now seen in the Gion Festival, are carried through the streets alongside ornate Kyoto-style portable shrines (mikoshi) dating from the late Edo period. Parishioners known as Kensashi carry these heavy ceremonial swords, which measure around 7–8 meters and weigh between 40–60 kg each. See as the punctuated rhythmic of chiming bells rings in a full spectacle delight.