Neighborhood portable shrines and Asakusa Shrine’s mikoshi move through the streets. This is not a normal quiet temple walk: procession routes affect where you can stand and move.
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 label: 2009-02-04 04:06. Original or supplied resized image; no additional editing.
Sanja Matsuri dates
Usually Friday–Sunday around the third Saturday in May
Usual annual season · exact next dates not confirmed
Event dates and times use Japan Standard Time (JST). Usual annual dates are not a confirmed booking schedule for the next edition. Check the organizer’s notices for daily times, admission and weather-related changes.
Where to watch
Tokyo / Asakusa · 東京・浅草
Asakusa Shrine and surrounding neighborhoods
浅草神社・浅草周辺
The map marks one reference point, not the entire route or every entrance. For village rites or moving processions, use the organizer’s venue map.
View reference location on Google Maps ↗Getting there by train or bus
Use Asakusa Station on the Ginza or Toei Asakusa subway line and walk to Asakusa Shrine. The Tsukuba Express station of the same name is in a different location.
History and traditions
Asakusa Shrine honors three figures associated with Sensoji’s foundation. Local neighborhoods sustain its shrine-carrying traditions.
Nearby places to consider
These sights can help you plan the rest of your visit. Check each location’s opening hours and access separately; festival road closures may affect the journey.
Before you visit Sanja Matsuri
When is Sanja Matsuri?
Usually Friday–Sunday around the third Saturday in May. These are the usual seasonal dates, not a confirmed schedule for the next edition. Check the linked organizer for times and changes.
How do I get to Sanja Matsuri by public transportation?
Use Asakusa Station on the Ginza or Toei Asakusa subway line and walk to Asakusa Shrine. The Tsukuba Express station of the same name is in a different location.
What should I plan before visiting Sanja Matsuri?
Keep clear of dense mikoshi groups and follow the viewing instructions. Traditional dance offerings have their own timetable, separate from the shrine processions.
These planning suggestions are JapanLiveNow’s editorial advice. Admission and operating arrangements follow the organizer’s current program.
Official program and visitor information
- asakusajinja.jp — official festival or destination information ↗
- asakusajinja.jp — official festival or destination information ↗
- www.gotokyo.org — official festival or destination information ↗
This guide uses the shared festival source register reviewed on October 3, 2026. Official notices take priority over archive photos and previous editions.