Asakusa Events

January 1 - Hatsumode (first New Year's visit to shrines and temples).
Senso-ji Temple always attracts a large number of visitors on New Year's Day then any other temple or shrine in Japan.

February 3 - Setsubun signifies the first day of spring by lunar calendar.
It is custom to throw beans this day to drive away the evil spirits, so at the Senso-ji Temple there is a Bean Throwing Festival and a Dance of Fukuji.

February 8 - Hari-kuyo (memorial service for needles) Senso-ji Temple

Sunday before March 3 - The Edo Nagashi-bina (Floating Dolls in the Edo for the Girl's Festival) Azumabashi Bribge
It is a Japanese traditional event to wash away the spirit of misfortune and to wish for their children to avoid diseases and disasters by floating Nagashi-bina dolls on the river from the terrace of Sumida Park.

March 18 - Kinryu-no-mai (Golden dragon dance).
According to the legend, 1000 pine trees suddenly appeared overnight near the Senso-ji Temple on the 18th day of March. After three days, a golden 30 meters dragon measuring descended into the pine trees from the heavens and was never seen again. The Golden Dragon Dance is based on this story.

Late March - Cherry blossom Festival Sumida River

Second Sunday of April - Shirasagi-no-mae (White heron dance) Senso-ji Temple

Mid April - Yabusame (Horseback archery) Sumida Park
Follows the traditional style recreated with the cooperation of the head of the Ogasawara School of Archery and Horsemanship.

Mid April - Regatta between Waseda and Keio Universities - Sumida River

Late April - Kankon Kutsu Ichi (Shoe fair) – Tamahime-inari Shrine

Late April - Naki-zumo Taikai (Crying Baby Contest) - Senso-ji Temple

May 5 - Takara-no-mae dance (Treasure Dance, which celebrates the blessings and goodness of the Kannon) - Senso-ji Temple

Saturday and Sunday around May 17 - Sanja-matsuri Festival (Asakusa's Main Spring Event)
The Sanja Festival is famous for its spectacular procession of portable shrines. The portable shrines from parishioner organizations of Asakusa Shrine in each of the 44 neighborhoods gather at 1 p.m. on Saturday in the precincts of Sensoji Temple, giving Asakusa a festive atmosphere.

Late June - Ofujisan no Ueki Ichi (Potted Plant Fair) - Around Sengen Jinja Shrine
The Beginning of the Mountaineering Season of Mt.Fuji and The Plants Fair

July 7 - Shitamachi Tanabata Festival (Star Festival) – Kappabashi Hon-dori
According to a legend, the two stars, Vega and Altair, separated lovers, can meet each other across the Milky Way only once a year on the evening of July 7th.

July 9-10 - Hozuki Ichi (Chinese Lantern Plant Fair) - Sensoji Temple
It is said that the people who visit Kannon on these days can get divine protection equal to the people who visit the shrine 46000 times.

Last Saturday of July - Sumida River fireworks display
One of the major fireworks displays of Tokyo. Good spots for viewing the fireworks display are along the Sumida River which flows through the eastern part of Tokyo and empties into Tokyo Bay. But you must be there 2 hours before the show starts (it usually starts at 19:30-20:00), to catch a good viewing spot, because 500000 people come to see these fireworks.
August - Taito Takigi Noh (Open air torching noh performance) - Sensoji Temple

Last Saturday of August - The Asakusa Samba Carnival - Sensoji Temple
About 40 teams of approximately 1,500 samba dancers participate in the carnival and 400000 people come to watch.

Early October - Edo Portable Shrine Festival – Around Sensoji Temple
About 20 unique portable shrines (mikoshi) from both Tokyo and other regions gather to take part in this festival.

From October 15 to November 15 - Asakusa Chrysanthemum Exhibition – Senso-ji Temple

October 18 - Kinryu-no-mai (Golden Dragon Dance) – Senso-ji Temple
According to the legend, 1000 pine trees suddenly appeared overnight near the Senso-ji Temple on the 18th day of March. After three days, a golden 30 meters dragon measuring descended into the pine trees from the heavens and was never seen again. The Golden Dragon Dance is based on this story.

November 3 - Tokyo Jidai-matsuri (Tokyo Historical Parade) - Around Sensoji Temple

November 3 - Shirasagi-no-mai (White Heron Dance) - Senso-ji Temple

November 4 - Tori-no-ichi (Rooster Fair on the Day of the Rooster) – Otori-jinja Shrine

Late November - Kutsu-no Megumi Matsuri Ichi (Shoe fair) – Tamahime-inari Shrine

December 17-19 - Hagoita Ichi (Ornamental Battledore Fair) - Senso-ji Temple

Mid December - Hakidaore Ichi (Shoe fair) – Hanakawado park

December 31 - Bell ringing on New Year’s Eve - Senso-ji Temple and others