10 Top Tokyo Festivals to Satisfy Your Cultural Craving

Poste date: Friday, April 7, 2023

One of the most enjoyable aspects of life in Japan is the many festivals that take place throughout the year, often distinct to an area or region. Tokyo is no exception, with a number of unique festivals ranging from religious parades where people carry shrines, to the enormous dance festivals of summer, and even anime and manga fairs that are huge fun for observers and fans alike. We’ve collected ten of the best Tokyo festivals, whether historical, modern or pop cultural–and we highly recommend you put them in your diary.

Historical and Religious Festivals in Tokyo

Kanda Matsuri

One of the most famous Tokyo festivals, this parade of more than 200 o-mikoshi (portable shrines), plus floats, dancers and musicians, starts at Kanda Myojin Shrine in the morning and winds its way through Kanda, Nihombashi and Akihabara before returning to the shrine in the evening. This festival began as a commemoration of Tokugawa Ieyasu’s 17^th century victory at the battle of Sekigahara, and the continuing prosperity of the Tokugawa shogunate. It takes place on the weekend closest to May 15^th in odd-numbered years and draws about a thousand people.

Website: https://www.kandamyoujin.or.jp/kandamatsuri/

Sanno Matsuri

Taking place from 6-17 June in even-numbered years–opposite to the Kanda Matsuri–the Sanno Matsuri continues a long tradition of festivals in Tokyo that also began in the 17^th century under the Tokugawa shogunate. Originally it was an opportunity for people to enter the grounds of Edo Castle, which no longer exists. A line of about 300 people in ancient jinkosai costumes parade through central Tokyo, ending at Hie Shrine.

Website: https://www.tenkamatsuri.jp/index.html

Fukagawa Hachiman Matsuri

Just like the Kanda and Sanno, this is one of the Tokyo festivals that began in the 17^th century, and together they form the three biggest Shinto festivals in Tokyo. The crowds throw water on the people carrying o-mikoshi shrines with all their might, their refreshing gesture giving it the epithet of “water-throwing festival”. Held in mid-August at the Tomioka Hachimangu Shrine in Koto-ku, every 3 years it expands into a hon-matsuri, featuring the Hachiman imperial carriage along with some 120 large and small o-mikoshi in the parade.

Website: http://www.tomiokahachimangu.or.jp/htmls/maturih1.html

Modern Cultural Tokyo Festivals

Dezome-shiki

An annual event put on by the Tokyo Fire Department sounds a little unlikely, but it has actually become a highlight among the many Tokyo festivals. Taking place on January 6^th at Tokyo Big Sight, you can see acrobats dressed as firefighters from the 17^th to 19^th centuries performing ladder-top stunts, ride in a fire engine, and see helicopters and fire drill demonstrations. There are also performances of traditional kiyari songs. This festival aims to raise awareness of disaster and fire prevention for the coming year.

Website: https://www.tfd.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/inf/dezome/index.html

Asakusa Samba Carnival

Established in 1981, the samba carnival reflects Japan’s close ties with Brazil and has become a major summer festival in Tokyo. Half a million people turn out to see this vibrant display of Brazil’s traditional dance, with many dance teams coming all the way from Brazil. The dancers parade through Asakusa, putting on their best show around the Kaminarimon gate as this is where the judges are seated.

Website: https://www.asakusa-samba.org/

Harajuku Omotesando Genki Matsuri Super Yosakoi

Yosakoi dancing fuses the traditional Awa summer dance with modern music and choreography and was born in Kochi Prefecture. This 2-day dance event at Yoyogi Park is one of the biggest and best festivals in Tokyo, marking the dedication of Meiji-jingu shrine in the park. Brightly costumed dancers use naruko - small wooden clappers held in each hand - but also blend modern music and clothing into the traditional. Among the great Tokyo festivals of summer, this one happens at the end of August with about 100 dance teams, plus an estimated 800,000 spectators.

Website: https://www.super-yosakoi.tokyo/

Koenji Awa-Odori

The Koenji festival began in 1957 as a way to revitalise the shopping streets in the town. The awa-odori is the traditional dance of Tokushima, but has spread throughout Japan and often sees dancers creating their own unique performances. Koenji is one of the larger Tokyo festivals, with about 10,000 dancers and draws roughly a million people to the streets. Held in the last weekend of August, it is a brilliant example of preserving tradition in a modern context.

Website: http://www.koenji-awaodori.com/language/eng.html

Gaming, Anime, and Manga Fairs in Tokyo

Jump Festa

This annual manga and anime exhibition is sponsored by the major publisher Shueisha, which publishes the weekly manga magazine Shonen Jump. At this huge event, also held at Makuhari Messe, new anime, manga and games are introduced to fans, and some incredibly high quality cosplayers turn up as their favorite characters. Manga artists do panel sessions and limited edition merchandise is on sale.

Website: https://www.jumpfesta.com/

Comiket

Short for “Comic Market”, Comiket is the biggest manga market in the world. Held at Tokyo Big Sight for three days in both August and December, there are plenty of commercial booths exhibiting their wares, and lots of amazing cosplayers. But the heart of Comiket is its representation of all things fan-made. The main event is the “doujinshi”, or self-published fan-made manga; people come along to browse and buy stacks of manga, from both amateurs and professionals.

Website: https://www.comiket.co.jp/

Other Festivals in Tokyo

Of course, this list is just a taster. There are many, many more festivals in Tokyo, not to mention and fairs of all kinds throughout the year. Whether your preference is dancing, history, culture or games, there’s an event for you. Below is a more comprehensive list of Tokyo festivals, and even some in the general area, which you can find details about by searching online.

Kokyo Ippan Sanga

A New Years’ visit to the Imperial Palace. The Imperial Palace is accessible via the Nijubashi Bridge and the Imperial Family makes appearances to wave to the crowds.

Date: January 2
Location: Imperial Palace, Chiyoda Ward
Website: https://www.kunaicho.go.jp/event/sanga/sanga.html

Setsubun

This “bean throwing” festival to ward off demons is celebrated all over Japan.

Date: February 3

Azalea Festival

Date: April
Location: Nezu Shrine
Website: https://www.city.bunkyo.lg.jp/tutuji.html

Fuji Matsuri

Wisteria festival at Kameido Tenjin Shrine

Date: April
Website: http://kameidotenjin.or.jp/gallery/fuji/

Meiji Shrine Spring Festival

A festival celebrating spring at Meiji Shrine and featuring various traditional Japanese performing arts.

Date: April - May
Website: https://www.meijijingu.or.jp/spring_taisai/

Sanja Matsuri

A festival honoring the three men that found a statue of Kannon, which led to the founding of Senso-ji in the Asakusa district. It’s notable for its extravagant parade of o-mikoshi, musicians and dancers.

Date: 3rd Weekend in May
Location: Asakusa
Website: https://www.asakusajinja.jp/sanjamatsuri/

Torigoe Matsuri

A big shrine festival held in June where the supposedly heaviest o-mikoshi are on display.

Date: June
Location: Asakusa
Website: https://www.city.taito.lg.jp/event/kanko/torikoematsuri.html

Star Festival

The star festival where people write their wishes on paper attached to decorative bamboo. You can see the decollation all over Japan.

Date: July

Asagao Matsuri

Held from July 6-8 every year around the Iriya Kishimojin temple. The festival is dedicated to morning glories. Around 400,000 people join to celebrate every year.

Date: July
Location: Shitaya (Taito-ku)
Website: https://www.asagao-maturi.com/

Hozuki-ichi

Senso-ji Temple was built in 628 and is known as the oldest temple in Tokyo. You will see many stalls selling Ground Cherry Pods, hear the breezy sound of wind bells (furin) and see many people wearing colorful yukatas, experiencing the “shitamachi” atmosphere.

Date: July
Location: Senso-ji Temple
Website: https://www.senso-ji.jp/annual_event/13.html

Mitama Matsuri

Mitama matsuri started in 1947. You can witness the beautiful 30,000 chochin (lanterns) decorated every year for this festival. The lanterns will light up from 6 pm.

Date: July
Location: Yasukuni Shrine
Website: https://www.yasukuni.or.jp/schedule/saiji.html

Azabujuban Nouryo Matsuri

The Azabujuban shopping district has been hosting the Azabujuban Noryo-matsuri festival for more than 40 years. You must experience this local matsuri organized by the shop owners.

Date: August
Website: https://www.azabujuban.or.jp/topics/topics_event/

Gotochi Nabe Festival

The Gotochi Nabe Festival is a large-scale gourmet event featuring characteristic 'nabe dishes' from all over Japan, using seasonal seafood, vegetables, mushrooms, meat and other ingredients. It is held in Hibiya Park for three days in November. It is a fun event where you can enjoy gourmet foods from all over Japan at once.

Date: November
Location: Hibiya parka
Website: https://nabefes.com/

Setagaya Boro-Ichi

The Setagaya Boro-Ichi (flea market) is a traditional event with a history of over 440 years. It is held twice a year, in December and January. The market is crowded with many people every year, with around 700 shops selling antiques, daily necessities, second-hand books etc. Mainly along Boroichi-dori, where the Daikan Yashiki is located.

Date: December and January
Location: 1-chome, Setagaya, Setagaya-ku
Website: https://www.city.setagaya.lg.jp/setagaya/001/003/d00125000.html