An ancient festival / parade dating back more than 1000 years is held every year on May 15.
Several years of ruined grain crops and epidemics were blamed on the Kamo River deities so the Emperor sent a message with a group of people to the shrine to prayer for a
bountiful harvest. The special messenger was sent on a galloping horse.This became an annual ritual and we got to see it today. It is called the Aoi festival because aoi leaves - a type of Japanese hollyhock - are used to decorate the horses, riders, walkers, umbrellas and much more.
