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October is a month of change in Kyoto; text by Steve Cooke

The weather changes from the balmy late summer of September to the crispness of autumnal October and the fashions on the streets change with it. The deep green mountainsides and parks of the city also follow suit, changing ever so slowly into their own autumn coats.

It is also change that is the essence of one of Kyoto’s most anticipated festivals, which is held this month. The Jidai Matsuri (Festival of the Ages) is a parade of periodic costumes that span over a thousand years of Japan’s history, from the Heian period to the Meiji restoration. Don’t miss this rare chance to see the whole spectrum of effects and apparel meticulously representative of each era of Japan’s rich history.

After gorging yourself on the photo opportunities of the parade, it might be time for one more change; a change of pace this time with the famously eccentric Kurama ‘Hi Matsuri’ Fire Festival, being held this same evening, 6pm. Kurama lies to the north of Kyoto City, and every year its transformation from a sleepy village to a blazing borough is one of the highlights of the Kyoto calendar. 

The whole town participates and marches through the streets with flaming torches, while the men sweat and shout as they heave massive pine torches towards the town’s ancient temple where a huge watch fire licks the night sky. This is local ritual in its purest form and proves that even with the hectic pace of today’s world, some things never change.