The Sanja Matsuri Festival, Asakusa, Tokyo, Japan

I love Tokyo. I love the city, the very friendly people, the art, the fashion, the nightlife, the electronics.. I could go on. I would go back to Tokyo over and over again if I could. I just bonded so well with the city :).

Last year while in Tokyo, I had the amazing pleasure of witnessing one of the three great Shinto festivals (spirituality of Japan and the people of Japan) in Tokyo, the annual Sanja Matsuri Festival in Asakusa.

The Sanja Matsuri (literally “Three Shrine Festival”), or Sanja Festival, is by far the largest of the three great Shinto festivals in Tokyo. The festival is held in honor of Hinokuma Hamanari, Hinokuma Takenari and Hajino Nakatomo, the three men who established and founded Sensō-ji. Sanja Matsuri is held on the third weekend of every May at Asakusa Shrine. Its prominent parades revolve around three mikoshi (three portable shrines), as well as traditional music and dancing. Over the course of three days, the festival attracts 1.5 to 2 million locals and tourists every year.

The festival takes place at the Sensō-ji in Asakusa

To be honest, I did not plan my trip to Tokyo around this festival as being in Tokyo was my first time hearing about it. But what a discovery I made!

At the harbor before we set sail to Harajuku — At the harbor before we set sail to Asakusa

My sister Tola at the harbor before we set sail to Harajuku — My sister Tola at the harbor before we set sail to Asakusa

My sister Tola and I on the ferry on our way into Asakusa

The Nakamise shopping street is located by the Sensō-ji in Asakusa

My sister and I’s visit to Tokyo last year was actually both of our first time in Japan and a trip that I had been planning and excitedly looking forward to for quite some time. So before arriving in Tokyo, I made a short (or long) list of places I just had to visit… Ginza, Harajuku, Ebisu, Asakusa and more. Asakusa was definitely on my list so I may visit the Sensō-ji temple and Nakamise shopping street.

While on the ferry, we made a new friend, Kim from Taipei, who we hung out with for the rest of the day!

It was just by pure luck that the day I opted for us to visit Asakusa/Nakamise was the main day of the Sanja Matsuri festival! How did that happen? 😀

Pedi-cab as we approached Nakamise shopping street

The magnificent Sensō-ji - it was so packed! — The magnificent Sensō-ji – it was so packed!

While on our ferry ride, we met a Kim, a new friend from Taipei, who happened to be heading to see the festival. We shared with her we were also going to the Sensō-ji and that’s when I found out about the festival, and from that moment, boy was I bursting with excitement!

When we got there, I felt like I had won the jackpot! It was everything I desired in a travel excursion, unexpected but wonderful. Culture, food, people, festivities, what more could one ask for? I was so excited to be right there, right in the midst of all of it, soaking it all in!

The Sanja Matsuri festival is a religious celebration, though it is primarily a festival of celebration. It is energetic, lively and overflowing with excitement everywhere.

This experience captured the essence of what I love about travel. I could have read about this festival in a book or online, but those could never bring it to life like being there can. There’s just nothing like being there! With each passing float, I felt like I was a student, learning something new each minute and each float that passed.

Paraders and carrying a mikoshi (portable shrine)

...and he's a cutie :) — …and he’s a cutie :)

The parades went on for quite some time though there were some short breaks scattered here and there. On the 3rd day which is the main festival day, the 3 main mikoshi depart from Asakusa shrine to start their tour of the districts of Asakusa at 6am and the tour concludes at 8pm. So this is a full day affair.