The central event in the Jidai Matsuri is gyoretsu, a resplendent procession, where more than 2,000 participants wear costumes representing the styles of each historical period starting with 1868 when the capital was transferred from Kyoto to Tokyo and going retrospectively back to 794 when the capital was moved to Kyoto . The Jidai Matsuri (Festival of Ages) started in 1895 to commemorate the 1100th anniversary of the transfer of the capital from Nara to Kyoto, known at that time as Heian-kyo, which means capital of peace and security. Ever since Kyoto had meant the capital of Japan for centuries.

　Along to the anniversary a model of Daigokuden, a structure used for court rituals in Heian palace, was constructed by Ito Chuta, the first professor of architectural history of Tokyo University, as a pavilion of the fourth national exhibition held in 1895 (as a programme of the commemoration). The model, having its size nearly two thirds of the actual structure, was so remarkable that, after many negotiations, it was decided to be kept permanently. Thus the model of Daigokuden was maintained as a shrine – the establishment of Heian Jingu. The shrine worships the spirit of Emperor Kammu, who founded Kyoto in 794 and the city’s last reigning emperor, Emperor Komei. Establishment of a shrine needs a festival so the Jidai Matsuri started. Therefore comparing to other festivals in Kyoto this festival is quite new.

　The highlights of the procession include a group of late-Edo-period warriors who took Emperor Meiji's side in toppling the Tokugawa Shogunate followed by Sakamoto Ryoma (1835-1867), a leader of the Meiji Restoration, the procession of Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536-1598), one of three mighty warlords who unified Japan, Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582), the most powerful warlord before Hideyoshi, Murasaki Shikibu (assumedly 973-1014), the author of the Tale of Genji), Sei Shonagon (around 966), the writer of the Pillow Book, and others. The spectacle also includes the charming junior geisha (maiko), and women dressed in the beautiful kimono of the imperial court. Some 12,000 historical artefacts, including costumes, harnesses, accessories, and sandals, are used in this festival. These items have been reproduced based on exhaustive historical research and are made or dyed with the same materials that were used to create the originals.