Welcome to TOKYO BEAT – a special series by your trusty Tokyo Tourism Representative (New York Office) that aims to provide you with story ideas and inspiration. While we get our fair share of street fairs, food festivals, and cultural parades during the summer months, Tokyo becomes the hotbed for natsu matsuri – summer festivals – that at once celebrate longstanding traditions, stuff you full of tasty food, present countless activities for people of all ages, and unfailingly get you into the summer spirit.
Shrine on! Without o-mikoshi, the portable Shinto shrine that is paraded in a lively procession, it wouldn’t be a proper natsu matsuri. The Fukagawa Festival, a Shinto festival at the Tomioka Hachiman Shrine, is perhaps one of the most famous of these events. It is also one of the oldest (dating back to 1642), and is often referred to as the ‘water splashing festival’, as bystanders splash water on the teams marching the shrines on their shoulders. Along with Fukagawa, Kanda Matsuri (held mid-May), and Sannō Matsuri (mid-June), which alternate yearly, are recognized as the ‘Big Three’ Shinto festivals in Tokyo.
Summer Flowers The flowering plant known as Hozuki (Ground Cherry Pods), with their delicate husks that resemble paper lanterns, are a centerpiece of the summer. Since the Edo era, Hozuki-ichi (Hozuki Fairs) have been a fixture, and people come from far and wide to head to Tokyo shrines just to purchase them. Among the most popular include Atago Jinja near Toranomon (late June), and Sensoji Temple in Asakusa (mid-July). Asagao – Morning Glory flowers – also symbolize the summer in Japan. To celebrate its bloom, Iriya Asagao Matsuri (Iriya Morning Glory Festival) is held from July 6 -8 at the Iriya Kishimojin Temple. Bringing together 60 stalls selling up to 120,000 Asagao to visitors, this is a significant cultural institution that dates back to the late Edo period.You
Think You Can Dance? Natsu matsuri dance processions are among the more iconic images of Japan – who can forget row after row of men and women dressed in colorful kimono or yukata, impeccably executing traditional movements, while accompanied by drums, string or wind instruments? Standards are especially high with the Koenji Awa Odori, which happens in the Koenji neighborhood on the last Saturday and Sunday in August – rain or shine. Over a million people come to watch 120 dance troupes battle it out in competition, along with performances from local school and community groups.
Essential Fixtures. No matter what aspect of natsu matsuri that you fancy, there is something for everyone. Food reigns supreme at Azabu-Juban Noryo Matsuri, which has drawn vendors from across Japan – From Hokkaido to Kyushu – and beyond for over half a Century. And while some festivals only last a couple of days, others keep the party going so nobody has to miss out. The Ueno Natsu Matsuri goes on for a full month, taking over beautiful Ueno Park with food stalls, games, jazz performances, parades, and a toro nagashi ceremony of floating paper lanterns.
Tokyo Natsu Matsuri Calendar in 2018 Fukagawa Matsuri: August 11-15 (The parade is scheduled on August 12.) Hozuki-ichi at Atago Jinja: June 23, 24 Hozuki-ichi at Sensoji Temple: July 9, 10 Iriya Asagao Matsuri: July 6-8 Koenji Awa Odori: August 25, 26 Azabu-Juban Noryo Matsuri: August 25, 26 Ueno Natsu Matsuri: July 14-August 12
For more information regarding natsu matsuri in Tokyo, contact press@tokyo-nyc.com or call 917-200-4887. For general information on traveling in Tokyo, head to TokyoTokyo.jp and Gotokyo.org/en/
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