Kanda Matsuri is a shrine festival held in May by Kanda Myojin, a shrine a short walk from Akihabara. If you want to see a real Tokyo festival with portable shrines, drums and local crowds, it is worth one morning or afternoon. It also sits well in a trip that includes the anime and electronics shops next door.
What the festival is
Kanda Myojin is an old shrine in the Kanda district. The festival is one of the major shrine festivals of Tokyo. Its best-known part is the procession of portable shrines, called mikoshi. Local groups carry them through the streets, with music and drums along the way.
The festival has a long link with the merchants and craft workers of the area. You can feel that history in the way neighbours gather, dress in festival clothes and welcome visitors who come to watch.
The large procession does not run every year. Some years the festival is smaller and focuses on rites at the shrine. Read the year's program before you plan the whole day around the parade.
Check first: whether the large procession runs in the year you visit, and on which days. Check the official site of Kanda Myojin for the year's program and route. Do not rely on an old blog post for this.
Where to go
- Kanda Myojin. The shrine grounds are where the rites happen. Arrive early to see the preparations.
- The streets around the shrine. The procession uses these roads. Find a spot away from the corners where the carriers turn.
- Akihabara. The electronics and anime district is next door. You can walk there in a few minutes after the festival.
How to plan the day
- Arrive early. The crowds grow through the day. Streets near the route can close for the procession.
- Use the train. Look at the nearest stations for Akihabara and Kanda on the planner before you leave your hotel.
- Walk slowly. The route can change at short notice. Keep a map on your phone and keep your bag close.
- Bring water. May can be warm, and a crowded street feels hotter than it looks.
Mix the shrine with the shops
Akihabara is full of electronics stores, anime and game shops, and small cafés. Many shops open later in the day, so the morning suits the festival and the afternoon suits shopping. Plan the shrine first, then walk to the shops while the crowds are still moving.
For food, use Tabelog to find places near the shrine. Read the recent reviews and check the opening days on each page before you walk there.
Good manners on the day
- Stand back from the route and let the portable shrines pass.
- Do not touch a mikoshi or the people who carry it, unless they invite you.
- Ask before you take close photos of people in festival clothes.
- Keep the streets clear for local residents and staff.
- Take your rubbish home, or keep it until you find a bin.
Before you go
Two words help on the day. Matsuri means festival. Mikoshi means the portable shrine carried on poles by a team. The people who carry and guide the procession are busy with their roles, so keep your distance and let them work. A polite greeting and a smile go a long way. If you are unsure whether you can enter an area, ask a staff member or a volunteer. Volunteers often wear matching clothes or armbands, which makes them easy to find.
Umbrellas can block the view of people behind you. Fold yours when you stand in a crowd, and carry a light rain jacket instead if the sky looks unsettled.
Check first
Check first: the program, the procession route and any ticket or road closure on the official Kanda Myojin site. If the site does not list a detail, ask the shrine office before you go.
What to do next
Read about the district in the Akihabara area guide. For the wider city, see the Tokyo page. When you know your dates, use the planner to fit the festival into your trip.
