Kanda Matsuri (Kanda Festival)

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Kanda Matsuri (Kanda Festival)

A festival filled with nostalgic atmosphere of the Edo period parading portable shrines and floats parade around the town.

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Annual celebration of Kanda Myojin or also called Kanda shrine. It is one of the Japan's major festivals along with the Gion Festival of Yasaka shrine in Kyoto and Tenjin Festival in Osaka Tenmangu shrine in Osaka.

The festival was designated as a formal festival by Edo Shogunate and called Tenka Festival (the festival for the whole country), the story has been told that the first Shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa visited this shrine to pray for victory in a war. The festival of Hon Matsuri is held in odd-numbered years in A.D and Kage Matsuri is held in even-numbered years; generally, Hon Matsuri held in odd-numbered years is called genuine Kanda Festival.

The best climax of the festival is Shinko-sai Festival held on the nearest Saturday to May 15 in Shinko-sai Festival year. The procession with the portable shrine parades to purify
around 108 town associations such as Kanda, Nihonbashi, Otemachi, Marunouchi, and Akihabara. Unique groups or floats are included in the procession called Tsuke Matsuri, for example, a group of people costumed of the Heian era, and a huge catfish is pulled as a float, which is the highlight of the festival.

On the next day of Shinko-sai Festival , the portable shrines from the local areas gather to the shrine, which is called Mikoshi-Miyairi and Chiiki-Togyo , are held.

Highlights

  • Annual celebration of Kanda Shrine has been held since the Edo period.
  • Japan’s one of the major festivals along with Gion Festival of Yasaka shrine in Kyoto and Tenjin Festival in Tenmangu shrine in Osaka.
  • The highlight is Shinko-sai Festival in which the portable shrine and unique floats parade.
  • Hon Matsuri is held in odd-numbered years, in which Shinko-sai Festival is held.

Photos

  • Precincts of Kanda Myojin (Kanda Shrine) where the Kanda Festival is held.

    Precincts of Kanda Myojin (Kanda Shrine) where the Kanda Festival is held.

  • The old shrine is said to be established in 730 A.D.

    The old shrine is said to be established in 730 A.D.

  • Zuishinmon Gate was rebuilt using cypress in 1976.

    Zuishinmon Gate was rebuilt using cypress in 1976.

  • The procession with the gorgeous portable shrine and people costumed in the Heian period parades in Shinko-sai Festival .

    The procession with the gorgeous portable shrine and people costumed in the Heian period parades in Shinko-sai Festival .

  • The unique floats appear such as a huge catfish and the main character of an old Japanese story, the old man who made flowers bloom.

    The unique floats appear such as a huge catfish and the main character of an old Japanese story, the old man who made flowers bloom.

Reviews

2

    紀念德川家康打下天下的慶典,所以是東京最值得慶祝的祭典.

  • 林芊雲

    據說今年時時隔4年的祭典。人聲鼎沸好熱鬧喔~~😊

Details

Name in Japanese
神田祭
Telephone
03-3254-0753 (Kanda Myojin)
Schedule
Days before and after on May 15th (Hon Matsuri is held in odd-numbered years in A.D)
Directions
1) A 5-minute walk from Ochanomizu station on JR Chuo Line or Sobu Line.
2) A 7-minute walk from Akihabara station on JR Keihin-Tohoku Line or Yamanote Line.
3) A 5-minute walk from Ochanomizu station on Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line.
4) 5-minute walk from Shin-Ochanomizu station on Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line.
5) 5-minute walk from Suehirocho station on Tokyo Metro Ginza Line.
6) A 7-minute walk from Akihabara station on Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line.
Website
Official Website (Japanese)