Tokyo Summer Festivals

Wondering what to do in Tokyo in summer? As the weather heats up, many Tokyoites flee their stuffy offices and classrooms to throw on lightweight yukata (not heavy kimono!) and enjoy the summer festivities outside, from mikoshi parades to stalls selling shaved ice under an evening of fireworks. Traditional Japanese summer festivals are an important part of the season, and while they can be found all across Japan, some of the most famous ones each year are the “Three Great Festivals of Edo,” which have been important annual Tokyo events since the Edo period (1603-1868). Make the most of your summer trip to Tokyo with a look at one (or all) of these unique Japanese festivals!

Kanda Festival: Tokyo’s Parade of 200 Shrines

The Kanda Festival, or Kanda Matsuri (神田祭), was originally established in the 1600s to celebrate a decisive martial victory made by Tokugawa Ieyasu, Japan’s first shogun. However, it’s the reputation of Kanda Shrine (also called Kanda Myojin) as one of Tokyo’s major Shinto spots that has maintained this biennial festival’s prestige in the centuries since. Not only is the Kanda Festival one of the Three Great Festivals of Edo (Tokyo), but it’s also been named one of Japan’s three major festivals!

Mikoshi (神輿) portable shrines are a staple of many of Japan’s traditional festivals, and the lavishly decorated structures be seen paraded through the streets upon the shoulders of passionate locals all over Japan, but most events keep their mikoshi compact enough that they can be supported by teams of a couple dozen people – despite weighing around a ton. The Kanda Festival, however, goes all out with the dozens of different mikoshi involved, and some have even grown to be the size of a small bus! Guided by enthusiastic festival participants, both smaller mikoshi and the larger floats make their way through the streets of Tokyo during this historic Shinto ritual.

The Kanda Festival and Sanno Festival are both biennial festivals, and it’s tradition for the pair of major Tokyo events to alternate – Kanda Festival is held on odd-numbered years.

Kanda Festival (神田祭)
Event Dates: held mid-May on odd-numbered years (next May 8, 2025 ~ May 15, 2025)
Location: Kanda Shrine, 2-16-2 Sotokanda, Chiyoda City, Tokyo
Access: 5 min walk from Ochanomizu Station or Shinochanomizu Station / 7 min walk from Akihabara Station.
Official Website (jp)

▶︎ Find details for Kanda Festival 2025!

Sanno Festival: Experience Heian-Era Japan

The Sanno Festival, sister festival to the Kanda Festival, began back in the Edo period as the annual festival of the Hie Shrine in Akasaka. With support from the shogunate then in power, however, the festival grew to include processions through the city, even reaching the historic Edo Castle. While Edo Castle might be long gone today, the festival is still going strong! These days, many festival-goers come to admire the festival’s parade of beautiful traditional costumes, visible as participants proudly strut in a recreation of a Heian period (794-1185) court procession!

Lasting about 10 days, the Sanno Festival still starts at the Hie Shrine and winds its way through the city, complete with mikoshi, larger parade floats, and 500 people in traditional court costume. Alternating years with the Kanda Festival, the Sanno Festival is held in even-numbered years!

Sanno Festival (山王祭)
Event Dates: held mid-June on even-numbered years (next June 7 ~ June 17, 2026)
Location: Hie Shrine, 2-10-5 Nagatacho, Chiyoda City, Tokyo
Access: 5 min walk from Kokkaigijidomae Station / 8 min walk from Akasaka Station or Akasakamitsuke Station
Official Website (jp)

Fukagawa Hachiman Festival: Cool Down the Traditional Tokyo Way

The final Great Festival of Edo is also the latest in the year, since the Fukagawa Hachiman Festival (often simply called Fukagawa 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” for a reason. Festival onlookrs are actually allowed (and expected to) splash the processions as they go by, soaking the participants as they carry heavy mikoshi from Tomioka Hachiman Shrine through the streets of eastern Tokyo!

Every three years an imperial carriage joins the ranks of the parade, making it a special “hon-matsuri.” Maybe you’ll get lucky and be there for one!

Fukagawa Hachiman Festival (深川八幡祭り)
Event Dates: held mid-August (next August 17, 2025)
Location: Tomioka Hachiman Shrine, 1-20-3 Tomioka, Koto City, Tokyo
Access: 3 min walk from Monzen Nakacho Station / 15 min walk from Ecchujima Station
Official Website (jp)

▶︎ Find details for Fukagawa Festival 2025!

Experience Tokyo’s Summer Spirit Through Its Traditional Festivals

When you’re feeling the summer heat in Tokyo, that means it’s time to go see portable mikoshi shrines glitter in the sunlight, and mikoshi bearers getting soaked! Tokyo’s summer festival season starts early and lasts for months, so you won’t want to miss this fun part of a summer trip to Japan!

▶︎ Bonus festival! Asakusa’s Sanja Festival (or Sanja Matsuri) 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.

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