Held at Kanda Myōjin Shrine, Kanda Matsuri dates back to the early Edo period and is celebrated in full scale every odd-numbered year. The main procession winds through Akihabara, Nihonbashi, and the Imperial Palace area with portable shrines, horseback riders, and hundreds of participants in Heian-era costume. The festival reflects deep-rooted shitamachi (old downtown) culture and draws hundreds of thousands of spectators over its multi-day programme.
- Type
- Festival
- Category
- Matsuri
- Season
- Spring
- Month
- Mid-May (odd-numbered years)
- Region
- Kanto
- Prefecture
- Tokyo
- City
- Tokyo (Chiyoda)
Highlights
- ◆Grand mikoshi procession through central Tokyo streets
- ◆Kanda Myōjin Shrine ceremonies and rituals
- ◆Heian-period costumes and horseback riders
- ◆Festival stalls and taiko drum performances
- ◆Full-scale event held every odd-numbered year