Kanda Matsuri - One of the Three Great Festivals of Japan

Kanda Matsuri is the signature festival of Kanda Myojin Shrine in Tokyo's Chiyoda City. Ranked among both the Three Great Festivals of Edo and the Three Great Festivals of Japan, it is also known as the "Tenka Matsuri" for its prestige. Kanda Myojin dates back to the year 730, and during the Edo period it flourished as the shogun's own festival—its grand procession was even allowed to enter Edo Castle. The full-scale main festival is held in odd-numbered years, with a smaller version in even-numbered years. Colorful parades sweep through central Tokyo neighborhoods such as Kanda, Nihonbashi, Akihabara, Otemachi, and Marunouchi. Festival highlights include the Shinko Procession, where sacred mikoshi (portable shrines), phoenix-topped palanquins, samurai on horseback, and costumed retinues tour the city center; and the Mikoshi Miyairi, when more than 200 mikoshi from 108 neighborhood associations are carried into the shrine one after another. The playful Tsuke-matsuri adds flair with giant wheeled floats and imaginative costume parades that showcase the spirit of Edo culture. Together, the majestic processions and the energy of the mikoshi bearers blend old Edo traditions with modern Tokyo—a must-see celebration for international visitors.