亮点
- 2027 dates not announced (third-Saturday-anchored Fri-Sun, so May 14-16 expected)
- About 100 neighborhood mikoshi from 44 parishes in the joint procession from noon Saturday
- The three main mikoshi carried out of Asakusa Shrine at 7:00 a.m. on the final Sunday
- The Daigyoretsu procession at 13:00 on the opening Friday, plus the binzasara dance
由来与背景
Held since the Edo period, Sanja Matsuri honors Hinokuma Hamanari, Hinokuma Takenari and Hajino Nakatomo, the three men said to have founded Senso-ji Temple, and remains Asakusa's signature festival.
Sanja Matsuri 2027 had no announced dates as of September 18, 2026. Asakusa Shrine says the festival runs "the Friday, Saturday and Sunday anchored on the third Saturday of May," which points to May 14-16, 2027. It is centered on Asakusa Shrine and Senso-ji, a 7-minute walk from Asakusa Station, and watching from the street is free. The third Saturday of May 2027 is May 15, so the Friday-to-Sunday window falls on May 14, 15 and 16.
What it is and why it matters
Sanja Matsuri is Tokyo's most famous shrine festival and the signature event of Asakusa. It's the annual grand festival (reitaisai) of Asakusa Shrine, honoring Hinokuma Hamanari, Hinokuma Takenari and Hajino Nakatomo -- the three men Edo-period legend credits with founding nearby Senso-ji Temple after finding a golden statue of Kannon in the Sumida River. The festival has run in some form since the Edo period, and Asakusa Shrine describes it as drawing about 1.8 million people over its three days -- one of the largest festivals in Japan.
Schedule (the official 2026 programme; 2027 times are not announced)
This is the programme Asakusa Shrine published for 2026 (Reiwa 8). The festival follows essentially the same shape every year.
| Day | Time | Rite or event |
|---|---|---|
| Thu, May 14 | 19:00 | Spirit transfer into the three main mikoshi |
| Fri, May 15 | 13:00 | Daigyoretsu grand procession (cancelled if wet) |
| Fri, May 15 | 14:20 | Binzasara dance offered at the shrine hall |
| Fri, May 15 | 15:30 | Spirit transfer into the neighborhood mikoshi |
| Sat, May 16 | 10:00 | Reitaisai main ceremony |
| Sat, May 16 | 12:00 | Joint neighborhood mikoshi procession (44 parishes, about 100 mikoshi) |
| Sun, May 17 | 7:00 | Miyadashi -- the three main mikoshi leave the shrine grounds |
| Sun, May 17 | 19:00-20:00 | Miyairi -- the mikoshi return |
Sources: Asakusa Shrine, "Sanja Matsuri schedule" and "About Sanja Matsuri", both checked September 18, 2026. The 2027 dates and times have not been published.
Getting there and tickets
There's no ticket and no gate -- Sanja Matsuri happens in the public streets around Asakusa Shrine and Senso-ji, so anyone can watch for free from the sidewalks. The nearest station is Asakusa (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, Toei Asakusa Line, Tobu Skytree Line, and the Tsukuba Express), about a 7-minute walk from the shrine (10 minutes from the Tsukuba Express side). Expect heavy crowding on all three days, especially Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning; some local restaurants and shops offer paid rooftop or window viewing spots that sell out in advance, but standing along the route is free.
Practical tips
The miyadashi starts at 7:00 a.m. on the final Sunday (2026 programme), so arrive around 6:00 a.m. for a close view -- the crowd only builds from there. Wear shoes you can stand in for hours, bring cash (many food stalls and small shops don't take cards), and expect train stations near Asakusa to be jammed from mid-morning through evening on Saturday and Sunday. Photographers should note that some mikoshi carriers display traditional tattoos, a normal and respected part of Edo-era festival culture -- be considerate about close-up photos of individuals.
Because the 2027 dates aren't official yet, check Asakusa Shrine's own site before you book flights or hotels around this page's estimated window.
Good to know for visitors
- Getting there
- 7-minute walk from Asakusa Station (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, Toei Asakusa Line, Tobu Skytree Line); 10 minutes from the Tsukuba Express Open directions in Google Maps ↗
- Booking & entry
- Free to attend — details on the official page (button above).
- Language
- Mostly in Japanese — a translation app on your phone helps.
- Good for
- culture seekers, groups of friends
温馨提示
No official 2027 dates as of September 18, 2026. Asakusa Shrine says the festival runs the Friday, Saturday and Sunday anchored on the third Saturday of May, which points to May 14-16, 2027 -- confirm on the shrine's own site. If it holds, the miyadashi is at 7:00 a.m. on the Sunday (2026 programme), so arrive around 6:00 a.m. for a close view; by mid-morning the area around Kaminarimon and the shrine is shoulder-to-shoulder.
常见问题
- When is Sanja Matsuri 2027?
- No 2027 dates had been published by Asakusa Shrine as of September 18, 2026. The shrine says the festival runs the Friday, Saturday and Sunday anchored on the third Saturday of May, which points to May 14-16, 2027.
- When was the 2026 festival?
- May 15 (Fri), 16 (Sat) and 17 (Sun), per the programme Asakusa Shrine published.
- What time is the miyadashi?
- 7:00 a.m. on the final Sunday, when the three main mikoshi are carried out of the shrine grounds. In 2026 that was May 17 at 7:00, with the miyairi return between 19:00 and 20:00 (Asakusa Shrine official). The 2027 times are not announced.
- When is the joint neighborhood mikoshi procession?
- From noon on the Saturday. About 100 mikoshi from Asakusa's 44 parish neighborhoods set off one by one from the plaza behind Senso-ji's main hall, are blessed at Asakusa Shrine, then tour their own neighborhoods (Asakusa Shrine official).
- What about the Daigyoretsu and the binzasara dance?
- On the opening Friday: the Daigyoretsu grand procession at 13:00 (cancelled if wet), the binzasara dance offered at the shrine hall at 14:20, and again at the kagura hall at 15:00 (cancelled if wet). These are the 2026 official times.
交通
Asakusa Shrine & Senso-ji area — 2-3-1 Asakusa, Taito City, Tokyo