Month by Month - Kyoto - page 44

October
October is one of the best months to visit Kyoto: the weather can be warm or cool and it's usually sunny. The
leaves start turning colour at the end of the month, particularly in the hills.
Jidai Matsuri (Festival of the Ages)
One of Kyoto's big three festivals features more than 2000 people dressed in costumes ran-
ging from the 8th to the 19th centuries parading from the Kyoto Imperial Palace ( CLICK
HERE ) to Heian-jingū ( CLICK HERE ) on 22 October.
Kurama Hi Matsuri (Kurama Fire Festival)
Mikoshi (portable shrines) are carried through the streets of this mountain hamlet, accom-
panied by young men in loincloths bearing giant flaming torches. The festival climaxes at
10pm on 22 October at Yuki-jinja in Kurama ( CLICK HERE ). Note that trains to and from
Kurama will be packed (we suggest going early and returning late).