Sanja Matsuri - One of Tokyo's Greatest Mikoshi Festivals

Sanja Matsuri, the annual festival of Asakusa Shrine in Tokyo, is one of the city's grandest mikoshi (portable shrine) festivals that has been celebrated since the Edo period. Held over three days during the mid-May weekend, the entire Asakusa district transforms into a vibrant festival celebration. The festival's origins trace back to the Asuka period, named after three men enshrined at Asakusa Shrine: two fishermen brothers who discovered a statue of Kannon in the Sumida River and the village headman who enshrined it. The highlight is the powerful mikoshi procession featuring three main shrine mikoshi weighing over one ton each, accompanied by approximately 100 neighborhood association mikoshi. The spirited shouts of "Soiya! Soiya!" and thundering taiko drums echo through Asakusa's narrow streets, while the vigorous Edo-style carrying technique of lifting the mikoshi high creates a spectacular sight. On the first day, colorful period costume parades and traditional performing arts such as binzasara dance are presented, allowing visitors to feel the festival's historical significance. During the three-day festival, over 1.5 million spectators gather, and the energy and excitement created by the carriers and audience together offers a precious experience that preserves the townspeople's culture of Edo to this day.