Tokyo · Chiyoda, Tokyo
Sannō Matsuri
山王祭
Hie Shrine's rite in Akasaka — the other tenka matsuri, alternating years with Kanda.
Next
9 June 2028
595 days away
Every 2 years (anchored on 2026) — the first Friday on or after 7 June
Future dates: 9 June 2028 · 7 June 2030 · 11 June 2032
Origin
Hie Shrine guarded Edo Castle and served as the tutelary shrine of the shogunal house. It stands beside Kanda as a tenka matsuri, but with a more official, samurai-facing character. The two alternating their full years was also a way of spreading the cost across the city.
What to look for
The shinkō-sai procession circles the Imperial Palace and passes through Ginza and Nihonbashi. Court costume moving between glass towers is the particular image this festival offers.
How to watch
The procession falls on a Friday and cuts across commuter routes; do not clot on the pavement. The shrine precinct is small — leave the tripod behind. The wider festival runs from 7 to 17 June, so there are rites to see beyond the procession itself.
Where
Hie Shrine, Akasaka
Chiyoda, Tokyo, Tokyo
Open in mapsSources