Aoi Matsuri (Hollyhock festival) 2011.  This is one of Kyoto’s biggest festivals, though it's by no means the most festive. The long procession from Kyoto Imperial Palace to Shimogamo-jinja to Kamigamo-jinja is fairly somber and is followed by Shinto rituals at the latter shrine, as well as feats performed on horseback. My access at Kamigamo was fairly limited, so I captured what I could. Here are my photos of the festival and here's a good description of the day's events: