The festival of historical eras (jidai) was first held in 1989 and this year it's celebrating its 21st anniversary. There is a grand parade comprising some 1,600 people dressed in period costumes representing the various eras of over thousand years of Tokyo history, including such historical events as the development of the Asakusa cultural area, the establishment of Edo government, and of the birth of modern Tokyo.

The group at the head of the parade depicts the story of the origin of Asakusa's Senso-ji Temple, the tale of a statue of Kannon, the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy, found in a fishermen's net in the Sumida River about 1,400 years ago. The following groups recreate the historical events during the Edo era: construction of the Edo Castle, Shogun Tokugawa taking office, the many prosperous female servants serving the Shogun in the Edo Castle, feudal lords, the famous 47 ronin samurai who avenged the death of their lord, and the collapse of the Edo government. The parade also depicts the transition from Edo to Tokyo including periods of westernization and modernization. The period costumes and hairstyles of each era wonderful to see, and the dance of the golden dragon, the acrobatics of Edo firefighters, the dance of Edo geisha, and other performances are a magnificent way to view the history of Tokyo.

The parade leaves Senso-ji Temple's Niten-mon Gate at 1:30 PM. The parade route follows a traffic-free promenade.

In the morning at Senso-ji Temple, dancers dressed as white herons perform and parade through the temple. This elegant "dance of white herons" is performed to the dramatic sound of Japanese flutes and drums.