Kanda Festival

One of Tokyo's largest Shinto festivities is Kanda festival. Kanda Myojin Shrine in Tokyo's Chiyoda City began holding it during the Edo period, and it now spans Kanda, Nihonbashi, Akihabara, and Marunouchi areas. During this time, the streets are dominated by over 200 mikoshi, thousands of participants, and thousands of onlookers. On odd-numbered years, the full "honmatsuri" is held, whereas on even-numbered years, a simplified version is held. The main attractions, which are supplemented by events throughout the week, usually take place on the weekend closest to May 15, with day-long processions on Saturday and mikoshi parades on Sunday.

The Gion festival's beginnings are unknown, however it is thought to have existed in some form during the construction of Kanda Myojin Shrine in 730. Tokugawa Ieyasu visited Kanda Myojin Shrine in 1600 to pray for his victory in the Battle of Sekigahara, and this is when the contemporary version of the shrine was born.

Location: Tokyo

Date: May