Tokyo is known as a city of cutting-edge modernity, but the city has another side, one of cherished traditions passed down for generations. During the Edo period (1603-1868), the absence of any major war granted all the people of Edo (old Tokyo), from nobility to commoner, time to enjoy a wide range of pleasures. Chief among these were “matsuri” (festivals). In many regions, a variety of festivals were held throughout the year, rooted in the local area. Today, these traditions connect the past with the present. Here, Yamamoto Tetsuya, an expert on all things “matsuri” throughout Japan, gives us his top five Tokyo festivals for travelers and revelers, one and all.

What are Japanese festivals?

Traditional Japanese festivals are not merely commercial or entertainment events, but spiritual rites originating from Shinto and Buddhism. The Japanese word for festival, “matsuri,” comes from the verb “matsuru” (to worship), and carries the meaning of gratitude for the blessings of local gods and nature, prayers for bountiful harvests and catches, and respect for the souls of the deceased. So, even while caught up in the gorgeous festivities and fun, it is important to take part or observe with a respectful attitude.

In Tokyo festivals, mikoshi portable shrines often make an appearance. This is a “vehicle” for the gods to temporarily reside in. During the festival, the mikoshi is carried around the neighborhood to a place called “otabisho”—a temporary place of rest for the gods—which is believed to spread the blessings of the gods throughout the area, purify the community, and bring about good harvests, health, and prosperity. Large mikoshi can weigh anywhere from several hundred kilograms to one ton, and sometimes 100 people or more work together to carry it. The collaborative effort, starting from the preparation stages, plays an important role in strengthening the bonds among local people.

Mizudome no mai (Dance to stop the rain) (Gonshoji Temple, Ota City)

As the name suggests, this traditional performance on the second Sunday of every July is dedicated not to summoning precipitation, but rather the opposite and less common act of “praying to stop the rain.”
Various theories circle around the origin, but it likely began over 700 years ago, after prayers for rain during a drought brought excessive downpours. The continuous rain caused flooding that washed away fields and crops, prompting people to don lion masks and pray for it to cease. After their prayer was answered, it is said that the people performed mizudome no mai as a gesture of gratitude.
The event starts with a rain-making ceremony. Two young people play the role of dragon gods wrapped in straw tubes (Photo 01), creating a “michiyuki” (pathway) from the town to Gonshoji Temple. These young performers are rolled along, while occasionally trumpeting on conch shells (Photo 02), as water is poured over them. Be aware that you might get soaked if you watch from too close.
Once the dragon gods arrive on the temple grounds, they are pulled onstage, and the straw tubes are untied and placed around the stage where lion dances are performed (Photo 03). The festival is now designated as an Intangible Folk Cultural Property by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.
Mizudome no mai (Japanese only)

Fukagawa Hachiman Matsuri (Tomioka Hachimangu Shrine, Koto City)

This mid-August festival is also known as the “Water-throwing Festival.” Pouring water on the mikoshi is seen as a ritual to purify the mikoshi and its carriers. It also doubles as a way to cool off in the heat of summer (Photo 01).
Along with the Kanda Matsuri and Sanno Matsuri, this celebration is considered one of the Three Great Festivals of Edo (old Tokyo) and boasts a history of about 380 years. The festival replete with a mikoshi parade, is held in mid-August every year, but once every three years a particularly grand version takes place (Photo 02). This Main Festival features 53 mikoshi (54 mikoshi are planned for the next one in 2026) setting off from in front of the shrine at around 7:30AM and parading through town. Townspeople, shops, and businesses along the road splash water at the mikoshi, while local firefighters also let loose their firehoses to spray the crowds. After being carried through town, all mikoshi return to the shrine by around 3PM, where they are sprinkled with purified water in front of the torii gate (Photo 03).
By the way, the year after the main festival, the colossal “Gohonsha” mikoshi (Photo 04) becomes the centerpiece of the event, replaced by the “Gohonsha Ninomiya mikoshi” the following year. In 2025, the Gohonsha Ninomiya mikoshi will be paraded for the first time in seven years. The heroic carrying of the mikoshi amid the splashing water gives this festival a dynamism that energizes the Tokyo midsummer season (Photo 05). Be prepared to get soaked if you join.
Tomioka Hachimangu Shrine (PDF)

Tori no Ichi (Chokokuji Temple / Otori Shrine, Taito City, and other shrines)

Kurayami Matsuri (Okunitama-jinja Shrine, Fuchu City)

This traditional event, held every year from April 30 to May 6, is said to have started over 1,000 years ago, likely originating from the “Kokufusai Festival” in the former province of Musashi, which corresponds to the western part of present-day Tokyo. The festival’s name “Kurayami” means “darkness” as the mikoshi was once carried through the streets in the dead of night. The festival is also designated as an Intangible Folk Cultural Property by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.
A number of sacred rites and events take place, beginning with the ritual of drawing water from the tide at Shinagawa, followed by the horse-racing ceremony Komakurabeshiki, a grand taiko drum performance (Photo 02), and a float procession (Photo 03). Only events from the horse racing ceremony on May 3 onward are open for viewing to the general public. The climax is the mikoshi procession on the night of May 5, a spectacular sight when eight mikoshi are paraded from the shrine to “otabisho,” a temporary place of rest for the god, accompanied by the thunder of massive taiko drums. The mikoshi are returned to the shrine early the next morning on the 6th (Photo 01).
GO TOKYO

Sanja Matsuri (Asakusa-jinja Shrine, Taito City)

This three-day festival is held every year on the third Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of May. Forty-four local shrine communities participate, with more than 1.8 million visitors joining the lively festivities during the period.
A grand procession and traditional performances (Photo 02) take place on the first day, followed on the second day by a parade of about 80 mikoshi portable shrines owned by neighborhood associations through the streets of Asakusa (Photo 03). The final day reaches a crescendo with the “main shrine mikoshi procession,” in which three mikoshi (Photo 01) owned by the shrine are each carried throughout each district of Asakusa, an endeavor that unfolds from dawn ‘til dusk. During this time, all of Asakusa comes together as one, caught up in the spirit of Edo (Photos 04, 05).
On the final Sunday, spectators can track the location of the main shrine mikoshi on a dedicated website. On the Saturday, as many as 80 mikoshi are paraded through the neighborhood at once, making them easy to spot all over Asakusa.
Asakusa-jinja Shrine


As you can see, many festivals in Japan are “religious events” organized or supported by shrines and temples. When visiting, please put your hands together and quietly pay your respects. Japanese “matsuri” are wonderful opportunities to get a sense of the bonds that tie local people and traditional culture together. Awareness of the beliefs and feelings of gratitude that underpin these events is sure to enrich your enjoyment of festivals in Japan. *The dates and content of festivals may change, so be sure to check the latest official information from the organizers before heading out.