JUNE | SANNO FESTIVAL

The Sanno Matsuri or Sanno Festival is one of Tokyo’s biggest festivals. It takes place only on even numbered years and alternates with the Kanda Matsuri which takes place every odd numbered years. This festival spans over a week with small events spread throughout the week, but the main attraction is the nine hour parade that winds through central Tokyo. The parade starts and ends at Hie Shrine which is responsible for hosting the event. Hie Shrine is considered to be one of Tokyo’s most important shrines as it houses the guardian deity of Tokyo. The parade passes by major landmarks such as the Yasukuni Shrine and Tokyo Imperial Palace where it offers a prayer to the Imperial Family - a rare honor. As with all festivals in Japan, the shrine will also have many festival booths where you can try festival foods and play traditional festival games.

The festival has been around since the Edo period (1603-1868) as a demonstration of prosperity under the new Shogun, Tokugawa’s regime. During this period, the Kanda Festival and Sanno Festival were the only festivals allowed inside the Edo Castle (where the shogun resided). They were both held annually, but competition became too fierce that they were ordered to hold it in alternating years.

Entrance fee: Free

Photo credit: Go Tokyo

Location: 2-10-5 Nagatacho, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 100-0014, Hie Shrine

Dates: Mid-June

Website: https://www.hiejinja.net/english/index.html

How to get there: An 8 minute walk from Akasakamitsuke Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza and Marunouchi Lines. A 5 minute walk from Kokkaigijidomae Station on the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line.