The “Events” category of the Tokyo Shitamachi Guide features limited-time events in the Shitamachi area of Tokyo, which is the area along and east of the Sumida River. Each time, we suggest a fascinating event to add to your Tokyo sightseeing experience.
In this blog post, we will discuss the Sanja Matsuri (or Sanja Festival) at Asakusa Shrine, a Shinto shrine in Tokyo’s Taito Ward.
Asakusa Shrine holds the Sanja Matsuri on the third Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of every May. So it’s still over two weeks away, as I am writing this blog post on May 2nd.
But people in Asakusa and its neighbors are preparing for the Sanja Matsuri already. You can find posters of the festival posted on bulletin boards in town. You should also notice lanterns from the festival hanging everywhere in the street. Yes, Asakusa is getting excited about the Sanja Matsuri.
We will share the detailed schedule and timelines of the Sanja Matsuri in this blog post. We will also explain the terms necessary to enjoy the festival even more. We hope you find it useful when you come to the festival.
This blog post is also available in Japanese. You can refer to it at the following link:
What is the Sanja Matsuri?
The Sanja Matsuri (or Sanja Festival) is an annual festival at Asakusa Shrine, a Shinto shrine in Tokyo’s Taito Ward.
Asakusa Shrine holds the Sanja Matsuri on the third Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of every May. This is the biggest festival in Tokyo and attracted more than 2 million visitors in 2017.
The name Sanja Matsuri comes from the former name of Asakusa Shrine, which is Sanja Gongensha Shrine.
Asakusa Shrine claims that they had the first Sanja Matsuri in 1312. That is, this festival is proud of its over 700-year history.
If you want to know more about Asakusa Shrine, please refer to the following article:
The scheduled dates of the Sanja Matsuri for 2023
- Location: Asakusa Shrine and Sensoji Temple
- Scheduled dates: May 19 (Fri.), 20 (Sat.), and 21 (Sun.)
- Public Transport (Train): Asakusa Station on the Asakusa Line, the Ginza Line, the Tobu Isesaki Line (Tobu Skytree Line), or the Tsukuba Express Line.
- Note: The Sanja Matsuri’s official website
The detailed schedule
The detailed schedule of the Sanja Matsuri for 2023 is as follows:
May 18 (Thu)
- 7 p.m.: a closed ritual to have Shinto deities ride into the Honsha-Mikoshis (the worship hall of Asakusa Shrine)
May 19 (Fri)
- From 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.: the opening parade (weather permitting)
- Asakusa Kenban
- Yanagi-Dori Street
- Senzoku-Dori Street
- Hisago-Dori Street
- Asakusa Rokku Street
- Nakamise-Dori Street
- Asakusa Shrine
- 2:20 p.m.: Binzasaramai Dance (the worship hall of Asakusa Shrine)
- 3 p.m.: Binzasaramai Dance (the Kagura-den hall of Asakusa Shrine/weather permitting)
- 3:30 p.m.: a closed ritual to have deities ride into the Chonai Mikoshis (the worship hall of Asakusa Shrine)
May 20 (Sat)
- 10 a.m.: the opening ceremony (the worship hall of Asakusa Shrine)
- Noon: go the Chonai-Mikoshis back to their home areas (Asakusa Shrine, Sensoji Temple, and their neighbors)
- 5 p.m.: Mikomai Dance (the Kagura hall of Asakusa Shrine)
May 21 (Sun)
- 5 a.m.: the Shinko-sai ritual (Asakusa Shrine)
- 6 a.m.: parade the Honsha-Mikoshis from Asakusa Shrine (Asakusa Shrine and Sensoji Temple)
- 8 a.m.: parade the Honsha-Mikoshis to the neighborhood (Asakusa Shrine, Sensoji Temple, and the neighbors)
- 2 p.m.: Mikomai Dance (the Kagura hall of Asakusa Shrine)
- 3 p.m.: Shinto Dance (the Kagura hall of Asakusa Shrine)
- 4 p.m.: Taiko Drum Performance (Asakusa Shrine)
- 8 p.m.: get the Honsha-Mikoshis back to Asakusa Shrine
- Later: a closed ritual to have the Shinto deities back from the Honsha-Mikoshis to Asakusa Shrine (the worship hall of Asakusa Shrine)
Glossary to enjoy the Sanja Matsuri
Sanja
Sanja (三社) means three Shinto deities.
Asakusa Shrine and Sensoji Temple share the same origin. They were one entity until the Meiji government issued the Shinbutsu Bunri policy in 1868.
The following three people contributed to the founding of Sensoji Temple in the early 7th century:
- HAJI Nakatomo
- HINOKUMA Hamanari
- HINOKUMA Takenari
They were deified in the early 12th century as local guardians. They are now the main Shinto deities of Asakusa Shrine.
Mikoshi
A Mikoshi is a portable Shinto shrine that serves as a vehicle for a Shinto deity.
The Honsha-Mikoshi
The Honsha-Mokoshi (本社神輿) is a Mikoshi that Asakusa Shrine owns. Asakusa Shrine has the following three Honsha-Mikoshis:
- Ichi-no-Miya (一之宮): the first Honsha-Mikoshi for HAJI Nakamachi
- Ni-no-Miya (二之宮): the second Honsha-Mikoshi for HINOKUMA Hamanari
- San-no-Miya (三之宮): the third Honsha-Mikoshi for HINOKUMA Takenari
The Chonai-Mikoshi
The Chonai-Mikoshi (町内神輿) is a Mikoshi that the neighbors of Asakusa Shrine owns. The neighborhood is divided into 44 areas. And each area owns more than one Mikoshi. There are more than 100 Chonai-Mikoshis in total.
Togyo
Togyo (渡御) means to carry Mikoshi and parade through the town.
Honsha-Mikoshi Kakucho Togyo
Honsha-Mikoshi Kakucho Togyo (本社神輿各町渡御) means to carry the three Honsha-Mikoshis and parade through the neighborhood of Asakusa Shrine. It starts at 8 a.m. on May 21 (Sun) this time.
Chonai-Mikoshi Rengo Togyo
Chonai-Mikoshi Rengo Togyo (町内神輿連合渡御) means to carry the Chonai-Mikoshis and parade around Asakusa Shrine. Each Chonai-Mikoshi then goes back to the area where it belongs. It starts at noon on May 20 (Sat) this time.
