RARE Photos of Kanda Matsuri, a BIG Festival at Kanda Myojin Shrine, Akihabara
Kanda Myojin Shrine in Akihabara and Ochanomizu holds Kanda Matsuri (=Festival) in May. It is a big festival which is held ONCE EVERY TWO YEARS! So we can see it again in TWO YEARS – Now just enjoy how it is like with many photos here!
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| Kanda Festival at Kanda Myojin Shrine, Tokyo, Japan |
Kanda Festival has a history of hundreds of years since Yedo era (1600 – 1867, the era of Tokugawa samurai clan) and it has been said to be one of “the 3 biggest festivals in Japan.”
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| Big Dashis (= mikoshis that are carried by ropes) at Kanda Festival |
People carry mikoshis (= traditional portable shrines) to the main building of Kanda Myojin Shrine.
It is not rare at all for traditional Japanese festivals – People do things like this in local small festivals, too.
But at Kanda Festival, there are 200 mikoshis carried by locals! So many!! Want to see the details of decorations?
More than 400 years have passed since Tokugawa samurai clan put their capital in Yedo (Tokyo’s old name.) So Kanda Festival was especially big and gorgeous this year.
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| Samurai dolls on the top of a dashi |
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| Traditional drums on a mikoshi – Local children are playing the drum |
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| Dolls of samurais in the Middle Age |
Locals of each towns near Kanda Myojin Shrine had parades with mikoshis.
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| A mikoshi parade – A building of Audio Technica, a leading audio manufacturer, is seen. |
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| A mikoshi parade – the building over there is a Japanese leading medical school |
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| A mikoshi going to the shrine through a torii gate |
The locals taking part in the festival are in traditional Japanese costumes for festivals – Sometimes a little child, too.
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| A mikoshi going to the shrine and… people |
And this is my best Crowded Tokyo Shot in Kanda Festival!
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| Beyond fresh green in May, Crowds in Kanda Festival!!! |
My best Crazily Crowded Tokyo Story is this, or that, but it was so crowded again!
At the end, let’s see the details of mikoshis.
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| People carrying a mikoshi on their shoulder |
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| A bird of paradise on the top of golden mikoshi |
Hope you enjoyed this post, and don’t miss Sanja Festival in Asakusa!
How to get to Kanda Myojin Shrine
From Ochanomizu
No matter where in Tokyo you are staying, get JR Chuo Line or JR Sobu Line to Ochanomizu. Tokyo Station or Shinjuku Station are the easy ways to understand.
From Akihabara
JR Yamanote Line, Sobu Line, Keihin-Tohoku Line, Tsukuba Express and Hibiya Subway Line stop at Akihabara.
To learn the outline of Tokyo City, See The Easiest JR Train Map!
Links
Kanda Myojin Official Website: http://www.kandamyoujin.or.jp/
Blog Post: A Pop Shrine?? – Kanda Myojin Shrine in Akihabara
Google Maps of Kanda Myojin Shrine
