The beginning of the Jidai Matsuri! The Jidai Matsuri was officially started to celebrate the history of Kyoto. Kyoto was the capital of Japan from 794 to 1868 when Emperor Meiji moved the capital the Tokyo. The people deeply felt the loss of their status as the center of Japan. The Jidai Matsuri helps the people of Kyoto to remember the greatness of Kyoto both past and present.