Today's weather in Kyoto was very sunny and warm.
In the morning, Eddy Bear, Tokio and I visited Kyoto Gyoen (Kyoto Imperial Palace) to watch Aoi Festival Parade.
We went there one hour before the parade starts as we wanted to have a good position.
The Imperial Palace is surronded by a wall called Tujii and there are 6 gates. The wall is about 450m long from north to south and is about 250m from east to west. It was very big!
Until 1869, before the capital was moved from Kyoto to Tokyo, it was the residence of the Imperial Family.
Aoi Festival is the oldest in Kyoto.
Over 500 people, 36 horses, 4 cows, 2 bullock carts and a palanquin decorated with aoi (hollyhock) leaves, set out from The Imperial Palace, proceeding to Simogamo Shrine, hence to Kamigamo Shrine, all in all an impressive 18km (12.8miles) journey.
We watched the parade near the Imperial Palace. It was very interesting and beautiful.