Kanda Matsuri
Near: Akihabara (Event is Free)
Event Date(s):
May. 8, 2024 • May. 9, 2024 • May. 10, 2024 • May. 11, 2024 • May. 12, 2024 • May. 13, 2024 • Feb. 13, 2025
(The Saturday and Sunday closest to May 15th)
Dates are subject to change without notice. Check with the official organizers before making travel arrangements.
The Kanda Festival (in Japanese; Kanda Matsuri "神田祭") is hosted by the Kanda Myojin Shrine and happens on the Saturday and Sunday closest to May 15th every-other year on "odd numbered" years (please check websites below). It is one of Tokyo's three most famous festivals, the other two being the Sanno Matsuri and the Fukagawa Matsuri.
Although the event is traditionally 5 or 6 days long, the main events occur on the Saturday and Sunday closest to May 15th when hundreds of people parade through central Tokyo (Kanda, Nihonbashi, Otemachi, Marunouchi, etc.) carrying Mikoshi (portable, hand carried "floats") on their backs and chanting/singing. The floats are decorated lavishly with phoenix, gold, flowers and such. Each "quarter" of the city tries it's best to make the most fantastic Mikoshi and show their support for their area.
Started in 1600 by Tokugawa Ieyasu to celebrate his decisive victory at the battle of Sekigahara, the festival has been "protected" by the Shogun and named a "State Festival". The parade of Mikoshi (portable shrines) were even allowed to enter the Imperial Castle at the time so the Shogun himself could watch.
2 Chome-16-2 Sotokanda
Chiyoda-Ku, Tokyo 101-0021 Japan
Website: Kanda Matsuri Homepage
