Out of pure luck I was in Kyoto on a special day - May 15th. This day is a celebration of the Aoi Festival. The whole city was filled with people squeezing into ever crevice along the parade route. Temporarily I left my travel buddies to find the perfect position. I squeezed and shimmied my way through the crowd, got yelled at by some kyoto policemen for standing in the street, climbed up a wall but it was all worth it. I took my professors advice whenever I was yelled at, "Smile, wave and pretend like you don't understand." (which actually wasn't that far off from the truth, being that everyone was talking in Japanese). Above are some photos from the parade. The top shows the parade line exiting the Imperial Gates.
Some Info about the Aoi Festival
The Aoi festival also known as the Kamo festival, is held at both the Kamigamo and Shimogamo Shrine. The origin of the festival dates back to the time of the Kinmei Emperor (approximately 1400 years ago). The grain at the time was not ripening, and this was seen as a curse from the Kamo-god. A horse was made to run with bells attached, and an abundant harvest resulted. This tradition continued unbroken, and came to be celebrated on a grand scale from the Fujiwara era.
The name of the Aoi Festival originated from the tradition of offering geraniums (aoi) to the gods, and decorating the temple, attendees and ox carriages with geranium leaves. Wearing elegant costumes of the Ocho era, the refined charm of the envoy and public servants parading through the city represents old-style Kyoto.