Hey all! Hope you are well! Whilst I was in Kyoto in May this year I happened to be there at the time of one of their three biggest festivals of the year – the Aoi Matsuri Festival (also known as the Hollyhock Festival) dating back over 1000 years. It is held on May 15th annually.

Japan LOVES festivals, and people turn out in droves to see the parades and the like. This was no exception with hundreds lining the streets to see the cavalcade of people dressed up in traditional costumes from the Heian Period (794 – 1185AD) with floats pulled by bullocks, and plenty of horses too! But it was a very hot day – and it was showing on the participants! Watch to see this popular festival as it passes by!