Kanda Matsuri Festival

Event Overview

Kanda Matsuri is a historic ritual held at Kanda Myojin Shrine in Chiyoda, Tokyo. Often called the Kanda Myojin Festival, it is celebrated as one of the three great festivals of Edo (old Tokyo) and is highly renowned throughout Japan. Historically, the festival shared a deep connection with the Tokugawa Shogunate, and it has been celebrated with great splendor as a festival honoring the Tokugawa lineage.

A key feature of this festival is that the major, high-energy events are held every other year (in odd-numbered years). The sight of ornate Mikoshi (portable shrines) reflecting the sophisticated spirit of the Edo period, along with traditional rituals and lively street processions, offers an overwhelming energy that captivates all who visit.

Highlights & How to Enjoy

There are many diverse ways to experience the magic of Kanda Matsuri:

• *Shinkosai (Grand Procession)**: This spectacular event takes place on the Saturday closest to May 15. Deities are carried in elegant Horen carriages and Mikoshi, accompanied by people dressed in traditional Heian-period attire and shrine maidens. Near the Mitsukoshi main store, the festivities become even more lively with the addition of