Kyoto Marks 130 Years of Jidai Matsuri

Oct 23, 2025 | News On Japan

KYOTO - The Jidai Festival, one of Kyoto’s three grand festivals, was held as a parade of people dressed in costumes representing different historical eras made its way through the streets of the ancient capital.

First held in 1895 to commemorate the 1,100th anniversary of the transfer of the capital to Heian-kyo, the festival marked its 130th anniversary this year. The highlight was the “Procession of Historical Costumes,” with participants wearing traditional attire symbolizing various periods from the Heian era to the Meiji Restoration.

The parade of about 2,000 participants included figures representing historical icons such as Oda Nobunaga and Sakamoto Ryoma. It took roughly two hours to travel from the Kyoto Imperial Palace to Heian Shrine.

Although the temperature in Kyoto on October 22nd reached only 16°C—the coldest of the season—some 43,000 spectators braved the rain to line the streets, captivated by the magnificent pageantry that brightened the autumn avenues of the ancient city.

Source: YOMIURI

Typhoons 28 and 29 Forecast to Turn North Around Weekend

Two typhoons are moving across the Pacific east and southeast of Japan, with both expected to change course around the weekend and remain well away from the main Japanese islands, though high waves and stronger winds could affect some areas. Typhoon No. 28, a strong storm, was moving west near Wake Island at about 45 kilometers per hour as of 3 a.m. on October 7, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.

Qilin Hacker Detained in Japan

A core member of the international ransomware group Qilin was detained in Japan and handed over to German authorities, according to people familiar with the case, as Japanese companies and institutions face a growing wave of cyberattacks that has exposed nearly 15 million pieces of personal information this month alone.

Year of the Sheep Postcards Arrive in Hokkaido

New Year postcards for 2027 arrived at post offices across Hokkaido on October 6, with designs featuring sheep for the upcoming Year of the Sheep as Japan's traditional New Year card market continues to shrink.

Japan Holds Sleep Contest With 2.22 Million Yen Prize

A first-of-its-kind sleep competition was held in Tokyo on October 5, with contestants competing for a 2.22 million yen top prize by trying to achieve the deepest, fastest and most stable sleep during a 90-minute session.

Japan Ends Asian Games With Record 83 Golds and 269 Medals

Japan brought the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games to a close on October 4 with a record 83 gold medals and 269 medals overall, finishing second behind China after 16 days of competition that produced historic victories in swimming, athletics, judo, wrestling, softball and other sports, while a closing ceremony in Nagoya marked the end of the first Asian Games held in Japan in 32 years.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Travel NEWS

JAL Unveils Revamped Domestic Lounge at Haneda Airport

Japan Airlines has revamped its domestic lounge at Tokyo's Haneda Airport, adding private workspaces, meal options timed to passengers' departures and facilities for families as it seeks to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse range of travelers.

Fans Gather at Furano Filming Locations After Screenwriter's Death

Fans from across Japan gathered in Furano, Hokkaido, on October 3 to visit filming locations from the television drama "From the Northern Country," marking the first weekend since the death of the series' screenwriter, So Kuramoto.

200-Year-Old Horse Festival Begins

Young men leaped onto horses racing at full speed through the grounds of Kasuga Shrine in Takahama, Aichi Prefecture, on October 3 as the city's traditional Takahama Omanto Festival got underway.

38,000 Dolls Farewelled at Tokyo Shrine

Around 38,000 dolls, including traditional Japanese dolls and stuffed animals, were brought to Meiji Shrine in Tokyo's Shibuya Ward for the annual Doll Appreciation Festival, where visitors bid farewell to old and damaged dolls in a ceremony expressing gratitude for the years they had been cherished.

A Year After Osaka Expo, a Peaceful Forest Remains

Nearly one year after the Osaka-Kansai Expo closed, the former exhibition grounds were opened to the media on October 2, revealing that around 90% of the pavilions and other facilities have been demolished, while the Forest of Tranquility remains a peaceful green space at the center of the site.

Osaka Launches Night Cruises Nearby Osaka Castle

Osaka will launch regular nighttime sightseeing cruises on October 3, offering visitors a new way to enjoy the city's illuminated waterfront, including the historic architecture of Nakanoshima and the skyline surrounding Osaka Castle.

First Snowfall Recorded on Hokkaido's Mount Asahidake

Hokkaido's highest peak, Mount Asahidake in the Daisetsuzan mountain range, recorded its first snow cover of the season on October 2, with the area around the Asahidake Ropeway's Sugatami Station, at an elevation of approximately 1,600 meters, blanketed in snow.

Kishiwada Danjiri Festival 2026 Links Generations Through Tradition

The 2026 Kishiwada Danjiri Festival brought generations together in Sakai-cho, where young men hauling a four-ton wooden float, veteran organizers guiding its course and a first-year rooftop performer worked side by side to carry forward a tradition dating back more than 300 years.

< 2 3 4 5 >