At a glance
- Major festivals in Tokyo don’t always take place on the same dates or at the same scale each year. Before choosing where to stay, check that year’s announcement from the shrine, ward office, or tourism bureau for the dates and procession route.
- Arrive in the viewing area before the procession starts, and check the restricted zones and restroom locations. Eat before it gets crowded, then leave slowly on the route you used to get there after the event ends.
- The Sanno Matsuri, Kanda Matsuri, and Sanja Matsuri have different schedules and procession formats. If you rely on the festival name alone and reuse an old schedule, you could miss the main event.
- If the event is canceled or scaled back, visit a temple, museum, or shopping street in the same neighborhood. It’s rarely worthwhile to cross the city looking for another festival that day.
- When checking the official schedule, distinguish the festival’s full duration from the actual procession date. The days with religious ceremonies, street processions, and many food stalls may differ, so note the time of the specific event you want to see.
- Even free events can mean longer detours because of traffic restrictions and fewer dining options. If paid viewing seats are available, check not only the price but also the entry time and whether reentry is allowed. If you don’t buy a seat, allow time in your schedule to wait while standing.
- The main festival seasons are Kanda Matsuri in May, Sanja Matsuri in May, and Sanno Matsuri in June. Kanda and Sanno have different schedules for their large processions, so don’t expect them to be the same size every year. Sanja Matsuri is hosted by Asakusa Shrine (浅草神社), next to Senso-ji Temple. The shrine’s official information describes it as taking place Friday through Sunday on the third weekend of May. Follow that year’s announcement for the actual dates and street procession schedule.
Day by day
Suggested itinerary
See each day's route, highlights, background and stay together in one place.
Choose one festival you want to see, then check that year’s announcement from the host shrine or temple for the dates and main procession day. Next, look for traffic restriction notices from the relevant ward office or police.
Write down the festival’s full duration, the actual procession time, viewing areas, and any station exit restrictions separately. Pick one indoor place in the same neighborhood to visit if the procession is canceled.
Arrive in the viewing area before the procession starts, and check the restricted zones and restrooms. Eat before it gets crowded, then walk to a nearby station in the direction where restrictions have been lifted after the event ends.
Places and meals
Check the procession schedule for this year’s Kanda Matsuri.
Google MapsThe shrine that hosts Sanja Matsuri. It is a separate organization from Senso-ji Temple.
Google MapsCheck Hie Shrine’s procession announcement for this year’s Sanno Matsuri.
Google MapsHow to fit it in
Check the viewing area and find a spot before the procession starts. Eat before it gets crowded, and after restrictions are lifted, it’s simplest to return by the route you came. If standing for a long time is difficult, choose a wide intersection midway along the route or an official rest area instead of the starting point. Decide where you’ll meet back up after using the restroom.
Reality check
Bus routes and station exits may be restricted because of the procession. Check for walking detours, and take the train after the first wave of crowds has cleared rather than right after the event ends.
Allow 3–4 hours to watch one section of the procession, including finding a spot and waiting. You’ll also need 60 minutes to eat beforehand and another 45 minutes to walk slowly to a station after restrictions are lifted. If the event is canceled or scaled back, switch to visiting a temple, museum, or shopping street in the same neighborhood. Don’t travel across town to chase another festival.
Street processions are often free, but prices for paid viewing seats, special shrine areas, and food vary by event. Divide your budget among round-trip transit, a meal before the crowds arrive, water and rain gear, and a paid seat if needed. Include your return time in your cost planning so you can avoid taking a taxi after the last train.
Don’t crowd the procession or cross restricted lines, and follow instructions from event staff. On hot days, resting in the shade matters more than holding your viewing spot. Carrying a child on your shoulders while moving or opening an umbrella on a narrow street can easily lead to collisions. If it rains, wear a raincoat. If the crowd gets so dense that you’re being pushed, move toward a safe, wider street.
If plans change
If the procession time or route changes, choose a viewing area on the official map again and stay within the same neighborhood.
If the heat or rain makes it difficult to stand for long, skip watching the procession and visit only indoor attractions and shopping streets in the same neighborhood.
Small tip
The Sanno, Kanda, and Sanja Matsuri have different schedules and procession formats, so the festival name alone isn’t enough to finalize your plans.
Final check before departure
- Choose one festival you want to see and check the host’s announcement for that year’s dates and procession schedule.
- Save the relevant authority’s traffic restriction notice and return-station information separately.
The Tokyo tourism foundation’s festival guide is a starting point for learning about major seasonal events, not a direct source for event dates or traffic restrictions. For that year’s information, first check Kanda Myojin Shrine’s announcement for Kanda Matsuri, Asakusa Shrine’s for Sanja Matsuri, and Hie Shrine’s for Sanno Matsuri. Then cross-check with traffic notices from the relevant authorities.
Information checked: 2026-10-03