The Kanda Festival is one of Tokyo’s major Shinto festivals hosted by Kanda Myojin Shrine. It takes place in the middle of May, but is only held every odd numbered year, alternating with the Sanno Festival which takes place every even numbered year in June. It’s roughly a week long, but the main event is on the weekend closest to May 15, when the Shrine brings out their portable shrine and parades through different neighborhoods for two days. Like all festivals in Japan, there are food stalls, festival games and joyous festival music. You can also watch the parade with the portable shrines leave and return the shrine.

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: Japan Guide

Location: 2-16-2 Sotokanda, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 101-0021, Kanda Myojin Shrine

Dates: Weekend closest to May 15

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

How to get there: A 5 minute walk from Ochanomizu Station on the JR Chuo Line. If you are in the Akihabara area, it’s about a 15 minute walk.

 

Usually held on the third full weekend of May, the Sanja festival is one of Tokyo’s biggest festivals. Hosted by the Sensoji Temple, this festival honors the three founders of the temple who are enshrined in the Asakusa Shrine right next to the temple. Over the course of the three days, over 2 million people visit the festival making it one of the most popular and wildest festivals.

Over the course of the weekend over 100 portable shrines are brought out and paraded around the streets to bring good fortune to the area. The main attraction is on the last day of the festival when the 3 main portable shrines are brought out. As with all festivals, the area of Asakusa will be packed with food stalls, festival games and a lively atmosphere filled with the sound of drums, flutes and instruments.

Entrance fee: Free

Photo credit: Tokyo Cheapo

Location: 2-3-1 Asakusa, Taito City, Tokyo 111-0032, Sensoji Temple

Dates: Third full weekend of May

Website: http://www.senso-ji.jp/english/

How to get there: A 5 minute walk from the Asakusa Station on the Ginza Line, Asakusa Line, Tobu Skytree Line and Tsukuba Express.

 

Every year, during Golden Week (first week in May when 4 national holidays are clumped together making it a very busy week for Japan) the Meiji Shrine hosts the Spring Grand Festival that marks the end of spring. The festival honors the shrines deity through traditional Japanese arts such as ancient court music, traditional dances, traditional theater, horseback archery and more. It’s a week long festival that features some of the top artists in each profession.

Entrance fee: Free

Photo credit: Go Tokyo

Location: 1-1 Yoyogikamizonocho, Shibuya City, Tokyo 151-8557, Meiji Shrine

Dates: Late April - Early May

Website: https://www.meijijingu.or.jp/en/

How to get there: A 1 minute walk from Harajuku Station on the JR Line or the Meiji-jingumae Station on the Chiyoda Line.

 

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.

 

Hatsumode, or New Years is the biggest holiday in Japan and celebrated between January 1st - 3rd. Most businesses will shut down for these three days and people will gather with their families. Each year is seen as completely separate and the New Years is used as a fresh start in Japan.

It is tradition to visit shrines and temples to pray for a good upcoming year. Big shrines and temples such as the Meiji Shrine and Sensoji Temple will usually attract more than a million people over the course of the three day holiday. The most impressive turn of events is at the actual turn of the year, the temples and shrines will countdown and ring large temple bells signifying the start of the year.

Taking a Japan tour on New Year can be both rewarding and frustrating. It can be rewarding in the sense that you can witness a very traditional holiday in Japan and take part in some of the biggest festivities at shrines and temples. However, during this holiday, most places will be closed. So, to the Japanese people it’s a few days off from work and life where they can just relax at home. But, as a tourist, after visiting a shrine and temple, there isn’t too much to do for the span of these few days.

Entrance fee: Free

Photo credit: Time Out Tokyo

Location: Meiji Shrine or Sensoji Temple.

Dates: Jan 1 - 3

Website: https://www.meijijingu.or.jp/en/ , http://www.senso-ji.jp/english/

Below are the map locations for Meiji Shrine and Sensoji Temple in relative order.

 

 

Every new years holiday, typically on January 2nd, the Imperial Family comes out on the long hall of Chowaden Hall and greets visitors. Over the course of this event, the family makes five appearances in the span of 5 hours and offers a few words for the public.

This event is widely popular in Tokyo and usually attracts thousands of people every year (2020 attracted about 68,000). It starts at 9:30 am and is held at the Imperial Palace. For organization the Nijubashi gate is used as the entrance. It is recommended to arrive early to get past security and massive crowds - it can take up to hours to get in. Here are the following times that the Imperial Family makes appearances:

First Appearance: Around 10:10 a.m.

Second Appearance: Around 11:00 a.m.

Third Appearance: Around 11:50 a.m.

Fourth Appearance: Around 1:30 p.m.

Fifth Appearance: Around 2:20 p.m.

Entrance fee: Free

Photo credit: Japanistry

Location: 1-1 Chiyoda, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 100-8111, Imperial Palace

Hours: 9:30am - 2:10pm

Website: https://www.kunaicho.go.jp/e-event/sanga01.html

How to get there: A 15 minute walk from Tokyo Station.

 

In Japan, setsubun is the day before the start of spring. On the Japanese lunar calendar, this falls sometime between February 2nd-4th every year. For centuries, this day was celebrated by performing rituals with the intent of chasing away evil spirits from the year before.

On this day, it is common to perform the setsubun ritual of mamemaki. Mamemaki literally means bean throwing, and participants will usually throw roasted beans at their homes or at shrines and temples. While throwing the beans you are supposed to shout oni-wa-soto which means evil spirits out and fuku-wa-uchi which means good luck in.

At shrines and temples, people will be tossing out beans and sometimes money, sweets, snacks and toys to celebrate. Major shrines and temples will even bring in sumo wrestlers to throw the roasted beans. Some shrines and temples that hold this event on big scales and have been known to bring in sumo wrestlers are Sensoji Temple, Zojoji Temple and Honmonji Temple.

Entrance fee: Free

Photo credit: Savvy Tokyo

Location: Sensoji Temple in Asakusa, Zojoji Temple near Tokyo Tower and Honmonji Temple in Ota Ward.

Hours: Typically around noon

Website: N/A

Below are the map locations for Sensoji Temple, Zojoji Temple and Honmonji Temple in relative order.

 

 

 

In Japan, hanami or seeing cherry blossoms is one of the most popular spring time activities to take part in. The cherry blossom takes part at the end of March and beginning of April, and if you’re too early to catch that, you might be able to catch the plum blossoms - which can be just as pretty!

The plum blossom is often associated with the start of spring because it is also one of the first flowers to blossom in Japan. Some of the most famous and well known spots for plum blossoms is Yushima Tenjin Shrine, Koishikawa Korakuen Garden and Hanegi Park. Yushima Tenjin has over 300 plum trees that look great when they bloom. Hanegi Park and Koishikawa Korakuen Garden both have fileds of plum trees making it popular spots to watch plum blossoms.

Photo credit: Japan Guide

Locations: Yushima Tenjin Shrine, Koishikawa Korakuen Garden, Hanegi Park

Dates: Mid to late February

Website: N/A

Below are the map locations for Yushima Tenjin Shrine, Koishikawa Korakuen Garden and Hanegi Park in relative order.

 

 

 

The annual Tokyo marathon takes place during the beginning of March or end of February, depending on the year. It’s a World Athletics Platinum Label marathon and one of the six World Marathon Majors. The race begins at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Buildings and runs throughout major landmarks of Tokyo such as the Tokyo Tower, Tokyo Skytree, Asakusa and ends at the Tokyo Station. A detailed map of the course can be found here. Some popular spots to watch the marathon is near the Tokyo Tower where a backdrop of the tower with the runners make for a unique scenery, Asakusa - a popular tourist area for both entertainment and watching the race - and the Ginza/Nihonbashi area.

Entrance fee: Free

Photo credit: World Marathon Majors website

Dates: Late February to early March.

Website: https://www.marathon.tokyo/en/

 

Occurring on the second Sunday of March every year, you can witness Buddhist monks walk over burning wood at the Hiwatari Festival in Mt. Takao. This sacred practice of walking over burning wood cleanses the monks from evil temptations and influences from evil spirits, as well as pray for world peace and longevity. Surrounding this festival are food stalls and traditional festival booths to keep guests entertained aside from the fire walking. Oh, and if you’re wondering, visitors can participate at the end as well. But don’t worry, it’s after the wood has cooled down a bit to ensure safety.

Entrance fee: Free

Photo credit: Go Tokyo

Location: In a parking lot near Takaosanguchi Station

Hours: Starts 1pm

Website: N/A

How to get there: The Takaosanguchi Station is on the Keio Takao Line which is easy accessible from Shinjuku.