Sanja Matsuri brings portable mikoshi shrines through Asakusa’s neighbourhoods. The shrine’s three mikoshi, local neighbourhood mikoshi and traditional dance offerings have different programme times.
Sanja Matsuri dates
Usually Friday–Sunday around the third Saturday in May
Usual annual timing
Dates and times use JST. Usual timing is not a confirmed next-edition schedule. Read the organiser’s programme for start times, tickets, postponements and cancellations.
Where to watch
Tokyo / Asakusa · 東京・浅草
Asakusa Shrine and surrounding neighbourhoods
浅草神社・浅草周辺
The opening parade follows Yanagi-dori → Umamichi-dori → Kaminarimon-dori → Kaminarimon → Nakamise → Asakusa Shrine. Neighborhood mikoshi and the shrine's three mikoshi follow other district routes.
The directions below use one representative location, not every venue entrance or the complete procession route. Use the official venue map for your ticket or programme.
Getting there by train or bus
Use Asakusa Station on the Ginza or Toei Asakusa subway line and walk to the shrine. The Tsukuba Express station with the same name is in a different location.
Planning your visit
Follow crowd and procession instructions around the mikoshi. Add a dance offering to your schedule if you want more than the street carrying scenes.
This is an editorial travel suggestion, not a claim of a personal visit or a guarantee of the programme. When travelling from Canada, use your Japan arrival date to select the festival day.
What to look for
- Neighborhood mikoshi
- Opening parade
- Shrine processions
History and traditions
Asakusa Shrine honors three figures associated with Sensoji's founding. Neighborhood mikoshi traditions preserve aspects of Edo culture.
Photo: View_of_mikoshi_from_sensoji_Sanja_Matsuri_2006-2.jpg: *View_of_mikoshi_from_sensoji_Sanja_Matsuri_2006.JPG: Torsodog derivative work: Torsodog (talk) derivative work: Torsodog (talk) · CC BY-SA 3.0. Original or supplied reduced image; no additional edits. See the original file for its date and context.
Nearby places to consider
Sensoji Temple · 浅草寺
Asakusa's Buddhist temple and its gate-and-shopping-street approach.
Visit outside the main procession period; Sensoji and neighboring Asakusa Shrine are different religious sites.
The description and suggested visit refer to the first attraction listed. Other links are separate nearby options; festival traffic and opening hours may affect your plans.
Sanja Matsuri questions
When is Sanja Matsuri?
Usually Friday–Sunday around the third Saturday in May. Usual annual timing is not confirmation of the next edition.
How do I reach Sanja Matsuri by public transport?
Use Asakusa Station on the Ginza or Toei Asakusa subway line and walk to the shrine. The Tsukuba Express station with the same name is in a different location.
What are Sanja Matsuri’s three mikoshi?
They represent the three figures enshrined at Asakusa Shrine. These shrine mikoshi and the neighbourhood mikoshi have separate procession schedules.
Official programme and sources
- Official reference · asakusajinja.jp ↗
- Official reference · asakusajinja.jp ↗
- Official reference · www.gotokyo.org ↗
Shared source records reviewed October 3, 2026. Some official pages are in Japanese. JapanLiveNow’s English guide is independently edited; the organiser’s latest announcement takes precedence.