Sanno Matsuri - One of the Three Great Festivals of Edo

The Sanno Matsuri of Hie Shrine, located in Akasaka, Tokyo, is a prestigious festival celebrated as one of the Three Great Festivals of Edo. It is also known as the "Tenka Matsuri" (Festival Under Heaven). During the grand Shinkosai procession held in alternate years, a magnificent parade stretches approximately 300 meters, featuring two phoenix palanquins, one main portable shrine, and six festival floats. This impressive procession travels through central Tokyo, including the Imperial Palace, Marunouchi, Nihonbashi, and Ginza areas. The spectacle of approximately 500 participants dressed in traditional Edo-period costumes recreating a royal scroll painting in modern Tokyo is truly breathtaking. In years when the Shinkosai procession is not held, various dedication ceremonies take place within the Hie Shrine grounds, including children's processions, traditional kagura performances, and Japanese confectionery festivals, sharing Japanese traditional culture with visitors.