Every May 15, a procession of courtiers in Heian-period dress crosses through Kyoto. The Aoi Matsuri — officially the Kamo Festival (Kamo-sai) — is a festival that predates the capital’s establishment in Kyoto in 794, making it approximately 1,500 years old. On that one day each year, Kamigamo Shrine offers a special goshuin separate from its standard one.
A Goshuin Available for One Day Only
The special Kamo Festival goshuin is offered on May 15 only. The location shifts depending on the time of day.
- 9:00 AM – approx. 2:00 PM: Regular stamp office inside the Ninotorii (second torii gate)
- After 2:00 PM: Temporary stamp station set up on the shrine grounds lawn
Fee: ¥1,000. Whether it will be written directly in your goshuin book or offered as a pre-written slip depends on conditions on the day.
The afternoon temporary station coincides with the time the procession returns, so the shrine grounds become more crowded. If you prefer less congestion, the morning is easier to navigate.
What Is the Aoi Matsuri?
Of Kyoto’s three great festivals — the Aoi Matsuri, the Gion Matsuri, and the Jidai Matsuri — the Aoi Matsuri is the oldest. It is held on May 15 without exception each year and is one of very few surviving festivals that maintains the form of a “chokusai,” in which an imperial envoy attends in person.
The procession departs from the Kyoto Imperial Palace, passes through Shimogamo Shrine, and arrives at Kamigamo Shrine. A train of over 500 participants — oxcarts, palanquins, and horses — in ancient court dress is a scene that seems lifted directly from a Heian-period ceremony. The “futaba-aoi” (double-leaf hollyhock) adorning the costume is the same leaf that became the model for the Tokugawa clan’s triple-leaf hollyhock crest, and is the origin of the festival’s name.
Shimogamo Shrine Also Offers a Limited Goshuin on the Same Day
Shimogamo Shrine (Kamo Mioya Jinja), the other main stage of the Aoi Matsuri, typically offers a limited Kamo Festival goshuin on May 15 as well, based on past years. Since the procession arrives at Shimogamo in the afternoon, one possible route is to receive your goshuin at Shimogamo in the morning and then move to Kamigamo in the afternoon.
The two shrines are about 4 km apart, and visiting both in one day is feasible — though crowds at both are unavoidable. Entry to both shrines is free; only the goshuin reception carries a fee.
Things to Know Before You Visit
- Spectators begin filling the procession route from early in the morning. If you want to watch the procession and receive your goshuin on the same trip, aim to be inside the shrine by 9 AM when the stamp office opens.
- Parking lots near Kamigamo Shrine will be closed or full on the day. The Kyoto City Bus stop “Kamigamo Jinja-mae” is the nearest option.
- In case of rain, the procession may be postponed to the following day. In that case, confirm the official word on the day regarding the limited goshuin.
Basic Information
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Limited Goshuin Date | Friday, May 15, 2026 only |
| Hours | 9:00 AM – (location changes around 2:00 PM) |
| Fee | ¥1,000 |
| Shrine | Kamo Wakeikazuchi Jinja (Kamigamo Shrine) |
| Address | 339 Kamigamo Honzan, Kita Ward, Kyoto |
| Access | Alight at Kyoto City Bus “Kamigamo Jinja-mae” |
Image: “Aoi Matsuri” by Japanexperterna.se, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Source: Kamigamo Shrine Official
