About the festival
Sanja Matsuri fills Asakusa with portable shrines carried by neighborhood groups. The opening parade and later mikoshi processions have different routes.
Who is it for?
Visitors curious about Tokyo neighborhood traditions and portable-shrine festivals.
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 date: 2009-02-04 04:06. Original image or Commons thumbnail; no additional edits.
Dates and times
Usually the Friday–Sunday around the third Saturday in May
Usual season; next dates not confirmed. Times use JST. See the official programme for session times and changes.
Venue and parade route
Tokyo / Asakusa · 東京・浅草
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.
浅草神社・浅草周辺
The map pin marks a reference venue, rather than every entrance or the full parade route.
Getting there by train or bus
- Use Asakusa on the Tokyo Metro Ginza or Toei Asakusa line and walk to Asakusa Shrine. The Tsukuba Express station is in a different location.
What to see
- Neighborhood mikoshi
- Opening parade
- Shrine processions
History and origins
Asakusa Shrine honors three figures associated with Sensoji's founding. Neighborhood mikoshi traditions preserve aspects of Edo culture.
Planning your visit
Our editorial suggestions for planning your trip.
Choose the opening parade or a particular mikoshi route, and leave room for the procession and stewards.
Places to visit nearby
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.
These stops and the suggested order are editorial recommendations. Check each venue's opening hours and festival-day road closures before travelling.
Sanja Matsuri: common questions
When is Sanja Matsuri?
Usually the Friday–Sunday around the third Saturday in May This is the usual season, rather than a confirmed timetable for the next edition. Times are Japan Standard Time (JST).
Where does Sanja Matsuri take place?
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.
How do I get to Sanja Matsuri by public transport?
Use Asakusa on the Tokyo Metro Ginza or Toei Asakusa line and walk to Asakusa Shrine. The Tsukuba Express station is in a different location.
Do the three shrine mikoshi follow one route?
No. They cover different assigned areas. The opening parade route is not a substitute for the final day's mikoshi maps.
Official sources
Sources reviewed: .