Exciting Spring Festivals in Tokyo
There are so many festivals in celebration of spring in Tokyo, this season is never boring. Watch the dancing or participate at one of the great traditional festivals at shrines and temples, go to the Doll Festival or watch the amazing hiwatari (traditional fire-walking ritual). Join in the celebration of the arrival of spring!
Mount Takao Hiwatari Matsuri Festival
Kinryu-no-mai (golden dragon dance) and Shirasagi-no-mai (white heron dance)
Kinryu-no-mai (golden dragon dance) and Shirasagi-no-mai (white heron dance)
Kinryu-no-mai is the main event at the Honzon Jigen-e ceremony celebrating the day Shokanzeon Bosatsu, the deity enshrined in Senso-ji Temple, appeared in this world held on March 18 every year. Kinryu-no-mai is based on the legend that a golden dragon came down from the sky at the appearance (jigen) of the deity in 628.
Date: March 18 (Sun), 2012. (This event is held on March 18 every year.)
Shirasagi-no-mai embodies the elegance of the Heian Period (794-1192). Forty "cranes" (dancers wearing white heron costumes), musicians, and samurai actors perform while parading through the grounds of the temple every year on the second Sunday in April.
Date: April 8 (Sun), 2012, 11:00 to 15:30. (This event is held on the second Sunday in April every year.)
Venue: Senso-ji Temple
Access: 5 minutes on foot from Asakusa Station on each line
Kurayami Matsuri (Darkness Festival)
Kurayami Matsuri is the seven-day annual festival of Okunitama Shrine held for more than 1,000 years. The main event is Mikoshi Togyo (portable shrine parade) on May 5. Six large Japanese drums are beaten to imitate the rumbling of the earth, and eight portable shrines are carried from the main shrine to otabisho (selected places for the shrines to rest) to the sound of loud cheers. The shrines moving through the streets under the illumination of paper lanterns in the black of night create a mystic atmosphere.
Date: April 30 (Mon) to May 6 (Sun). (This event is held from April 30 through May 6 every year.)
Venue: Okunitama Shrine
Access: 5 minutes on foot from Keio Line Fuchu Station or JR Fuchu-Hommachi Station
Don't miss the following spring festivals, too!
At the Hina Matsuri (Doll Festival) people throw hina dolls into a river to take illnesses away from children. The festival is held annually on the Sunday before March 3.
Date: February 26 (Sun), 2012, 11:30 to 13:00. (This event is held on the Sunday before March 3 (Hina Matsuri) every year.)
Venue: Shinsui Terrace of Azuma-bashi Bridge in the Sumida Park
Access: 3 minutes on foot from Subway Asakusa Station
Jindaiji Daruma Fair
The goma kuyo (fire ritual) is performed to avoid unexpected misfortunes and disasters and have various wishes granted. Japan's traditional lucky figure, a daruma doll, can be purchased in various sizes on the temple grounds. Date: March, 3 (Sat) and 4 (Sun), 2012
Date: March, 3 (Sat) and 4 (Sun), 2012
Venue: Jindai-ji Temple
Access: by bus from Keio Line Chofu Station or Tsutsujigaoka Station
Mount Takao Hiwatari Matsuri Festival
Mountain priests in special raiment walk over embers from the pieces of wood with prayers written on them. The blazing fire and courageous monks are truly a dramatic sight to see. The festival is held annually on the second Sunday in March.
Date: March 11 (Sun), 2012, from 13:00. (This event is held on the second Sunday in March every year.)
Venue: Open area in front of the Jidosha Kito-den Hall at Mount Takao Yakuo-in Temple
Access: 5 minutes on foot from Keio Line Takaosanguchi Station
Bunkyo Tsutsuji Matsuri
(Azalea Festival)
Bunkyo Tsutsuji Matsuri (Azalea Festival)
Tsutsuji Garden in Nezu Shrine in the popular shitamachi Yanesen Area is planted with about 3,000 gorgeous azaleas of about 50 varieties.
Date: April 7 (Sat) to May 6 (Sun), 2012
Venue: Nezu Shrine
Access: 5 minutes on foot from Subway Nezu Station, Sendagi Station, or Todaimae Station