Sanno Matsuri

Originally begun during the Edo Period and soon growing into one of Japan’s largest festivals, today the Sanno Matsuri is one of Tokyo’s famous festivals, along with the Kanda Matsuri. It takes place in mid June in even numbered years, alternating with the Kanda Matsuri which takes place in odd numbered years.

The Sanno Festival takes place over a week and has several small events. The main event is a parade of hundreds of people in period costume and on horseback, that goes through central Tokyo over nine hours on one of the festival days. The parade starts and finishes at Hie Shrine, the shrine responsible for holding the festival and which enshrines the guardian deity of Tokyo.