CONTENTS
In Japan, Summer Is the Season of Traditional Festivals and Fireworks!
As the Tokyo weather heats up, Tokyoites begin to flee their stuffy offices and classrooms to feel the cool breeze outside. For some, that means throwing on their lightweight yukata (not heavy kimono!) and going to watch fireworks. But the most exciting summer activities are undoubtedly the traditional festivals that take place all over Japan during the summer.
Kanda Festival: One of Japan’s Big 3
The Kanda Shrine is a major Shinto spot in Tokyo, and its biennial festival is a big deal. The Kanda Festival, or Kanda Matsuri (神田祭) has been going on long enough that it was already a big deal back when Tokyo was known as Edo (which is why these are the "Great Festivals of Edo!) While today we're discussing Tokyo's major festivals, the Kanda Festival has also been named one of Japan's three major festivals, so it's known nationwide.
Many festivals of all sizes include processions where teams of locals will carry portable shrines, "mikoshi" (神輿), on their shoulders. These little shrines are usually lavishly decorated and beautiful, and they are definitely very heavy, but they have to be small enough that groups of people can carry them. The Kanda Festival also includes larger versions around the size of a car! The smaller mikoshi and the larger parade-floats make their way through the streets of Tokyo, guided by enthusiastic festival participants. Traditionally the Kanda Festival and Sanno Festival are both biennial festivals, and alternate years! This year (2019) the Kanda Festival has already begun, but you can start planning for 2021 now!
Image Source: Kanda Festival Official Website
Event Dates: May 9, 2019 ~ May 15, 2019
Location: Kanda Shrine, 2 Chome-16-2 Sotokanda, Chiyoda City, Tokyo
Access: 5 min. walk from Ochanomizu Station or Shinochanomizu Station. 7 min. walk from Akihabara Station.
Official Website
Sanno Festival: Richly Ornamented and Beautiful
The Sanno Festival also has a long history, beginning in the Edo Era. It started out as an annual festival of the Hie Shrine in Akasaka, and with support from the shogunate then in power, paraded through the city and even Edo Castle. It's still going strong today, and now it's popular with those who want to admire the traditional outfits of festival participants, and the really beautiful mikoshi and parade floats. Lasting about 10 days, the Sanno Festival still starts at the Hie Shrine, and winds its way through the city, complete with 500 people in traditional court costume. Alternating years with the Kanda Festival, the next Sanno Festival will be in 2020, so before attending the Tokyo Olympics, spend some time admiring Japan's rich traditions!
Image Source: Sanno Festival Official Website
Image Source: Sanno Festival Official Website
Event Dates: June 7 ~ June 17
Location: Hie Shrine, 2 Chome-10-5 Nagatacho, Chiyoda City, Tokyo
Access: 5 min. walk from Kokkaigijidomae Station, 8 min. walk from Akasaka Station or Akasakamitsuke Station
Official Website
Fukagawa Hachiman Festival: The “Water Splashing Festival”
The final Great Festival of Edo is also the latest in the year, as the Fukagawa Hachiman Festival usually starts around August 15th. In the midst of hot and humid August weather, you may be excited to find that this festival is also nicknamed the "Water Splashing Festival" because it includes the tradition of splashing the festival participants, those carrying mikoshi in the parade, with lots and lots of water! Hopefully it cools them down while they carry the heavy structures on their shoulders. Every three years a special imperial carriage joins the ranks of the parade, making it a special "hon-matsuri." Maybe you'll get lucky and be there for one!
Image Source: Go Tokyo
Event Dates: usually around August 15th (dates not yet announced)
Location: Tomioka Hachiman Shrine, 1 Chome-20-3 Tomioka, Koto City, Tokyo
Access: 3 min. walk from Monzen Nakacho Station, 15 min. walk from Ecchujima Station
Official Website
Image Source: Asakusa Shrine Official Website
So, are you feeling that summer heat yet? Ready to go see some portable mikoshi shrines glitter in the sunlight, or mikoshi bearers get soaked? The summer festivals this year have already begun, but there's still plenty remaining, and they're a great way to get into the Japanese spirit!
(If you're reading this article right when it comes out, you have time to make it to Asakusa's Sanja Festival. It may not be one of the "Great Festivals" of Tokyo, but in our hearts it's top 3 worthy! Definitely worth a look if you're in Tokyo.)
PROFILE
Follow us @Japankuru on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!
COMMENT
FEATURED MEDIA
VIEW MORESee Kyoto Clearly With Your New Glasses #japankuru #kyoto #jins #교토여행 #진즈 #京都 #교토수족관 #가모가와 #kamogawa #kyotoaquarium
A Very Special Trip on the Ferry Sunflower #japankuru #ferrysunflower #hokkaidotrip #japanexperience #japantrip #girlstrip #oarai #tomakomai #北海道 #北海道旅行 #茨城 #홋가이도 #일본선박여행 #토마코마이 #이바라키 #북해도 #페리여행 #여행에미치다 #여자끼리 #日本渡輪 #sunflower號 #坐船旅行 #日本女子旅 #日本體驗
Japanese Makeup Shopping • A Trip to Kamakura & Enoshima With Canmake’s Cool-Toned Summer Makeup #pr #canmake #enoshima #enoden #에노시마 #캔메이크 #japanesemakeup #japanesecosmetics
⚔️The Robot Restaurant is gone, but the Samurai Restaurant is here to take its place. Check it out, and don't forget your coupon! 🍣신주쿠의 명소 로봇 레스토랑이 사무라이 레스토랑으로 부활! 절찬 쿠폰 발급중 💃18歲以上才能入場的歌舞秀,和你想的不一樣!拿好優惠券去看看~ #tokyo #shinjuku #samurairestaurant #robotrestaurant #tokyotrip #도쿄여행 #신주쿠 #사무라이레스토랑 #이색체험 #할인이벤트 #歌舞伎町 #東京景點 #武士餐廳 #日本表演 #日本文化體驗 #japankuru #japantrip #japantravel #japanlovers #japan_of_insta
Japanese appliance & electronics shopping with our KOJIMA x BicCamera coupon! 用JAPANKURU的KOJIMA x BicCamera優惠券買這些正好❤️ 코지마 x 빅 카메라 쿠폰으로 일본 가전 제품 쇼핑하기 #pr #japankuru #japanshopping #kojima #biccamera #japaneseskincare #yaman #dji #osmopocket3 #skincaredevice #日本購物 #美容儀 #相機 #雅萌 #日本家電 #일본여행 #면세 #여행꿀팁 #일본쇼핑리스트 #쿠폰 #일본쇼핑 #일본브랜드 #할인 #코지마 #빅카메라 #japankurucoupon
Odaiba's DiverCity Tokyo Plaza is home to the famous real-size 20m-tall Unicorn Gundam, and the popular shopping center has even more Gundam on the inside! Check out the Gundam Base Tokyo on the 7th floor for shelves upon shelves of Gunpla, and the Gundam Base Tokyo Annex on the 2nd floor for cool anime merchandise. Both shops have tons of limited-edition items! #pr #odaiba #tokyo #tokyotrip #japantrip #japantravel #PR #divercity #divercitytokyoplaza #tokyoshopping #gundam #unicorngundam #gundambasetokyo #anime #otaku #gunpla #japankuru #오다이바 #다이바시티도쿄 #오다이바건담 #건담 #일본건담 #건프라 #건담베이스도쿄