Discover Tokyo’s Legendary Water Festival

Experience one of Tokyo’s most exciting summer traditions at the Fukagawa Hachiman Festival (AKA Fukagawa Matsuri)! This historic event is one of the Three Great Festivals of Edo (alongside the Kanda and Sanno festivals), and even after centuries, the festival’s unique traditions bring a little spark of fun to eastern Tokyo each summer.

The event is held annually in and around Tomioka Hachimangu Shrine in mid-August, a yearly gathering in the midst of Japan’s sweltering summer heat. However, the “Main Festival” offers a particularly large spectacle for spectators, held just once every 3 years—and 2026 happens to be one of those years!

Fukagawa Hachiman Festival 2026 Schedule

August 14th (Friday) Annual Festival: A large, solemn Shinto ritual, where the chief priest and other Shinto priests attend in traditional robes.

August 15th (Saturday) Divine Procession: The deity of Hachiman Shrine is transferred to the sacred palanquin and carried in a procession of approximately 70 kilometers within the parish area.

August 16th (Sunday) Mikoshi Procession: 54 large shrines from nearby neighborhoods gather together for a surprisingly well-watered parade.

The Festival’s Most Famous Tradition

The blazing summer heat has offered plenty of inspiration for festival traditions, helping the Fukagawa Festival to also earn the fond nickname the “Water Splashing Festival.” As locals carrying portable mikoshi shrines (神輿) for the Mikoshi Procession wind their way through Tokyo, things heat up, but the parade members get to cool down! This is one of the shrine’s most famous traditions: onlookers join in on the fun by tossing lots and lots of water into the mix!

As the mikoshis move, the festivities draw enthusiastic crowds who come to cheer, splash, and celebrate. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a Tokyo matsuri veteran, the Fukagawa Hachiman Festival offers a refreshing way to connect with Japanese history during your time in the city!

深川八幡祭り2026