Asakusa Festival & Annual Events Calendar
Dates are typical for each year. Where this year's dates are announced, follow "Next" for details.
January
New Year Prayer Services
Jan 1–7Senso-ji Main Hall
New Year services praying for safety and prosperity. The busiest time of year at Senso-ji, crowded with hatsumode visitors.
February
Setsubun-e (Bean Throwing)
Feb 3 (Setsubun)Senso-ji
Celebrities and people born in the zodiac year throw beans from a stage beside the Main Hall, with the Fukuju-no-Mai dance.
Hari-kuyo (Needle Memorial)
Feb 8Awashima-do, Senso-ji
Broken and worn-out needles are laid to rest in tofu, with prayers for skill in sewing.
March
Honzon Jigen-e & Golden Dragon Dance
Mar 18Senso-ji
Marks the day Senso-ji's principal image appeared from the Sumida River, celebrated with the Golden Dragon Dance.
April
Hana Matsuri (Buddha's Birthday)
Apr 8Senso-ji
Celebrates the birth of the Buddha; visitors pour sweet hydrangea tea over a statue of the infant Buddha.
Shirasagi-no-Mai (White Heron Dance)
2nd Sunday of April & Nov 3Senso-ji grounds
Dancers dressed as white herons parade through the grounds in a dance revived from a 17th-century scroll.
Asakusa Yabusame (Horseback Archery)
A Saturday in mid-AprilSumida Park
Archers in Kamakura-period costume shoot targets from galloping horses, alongside the Kusajishi archery ritual.
May
Takara-no-Mai (Treasure Dance)
May 5Senso-ji grounds
A temple dance on Children's Day, with a treasure ship, the Seven Lucky Gods and children parading the grounds.
Sanja Matsuri
Fri–Sun around the 3rd Saturday of MayAsakusa Shrine & around Asakusa
The grand festival of Asakusa Shrine: a procession, about 100 neighborhood mikoshi, and the three main shrine mikoshi on the final day.
July
Shiman Rokusen-nichi & Hozuki Market
Jul 9–10Senso-ji grounds
A visit on these days is said to equal 46,000 days of worship. The grounds fill with stalls selling potted ground cherries.
Sumida River Fireworks Festival
Last Saturday of JulySumida River (two launch sites near Asakusa)
Dating back to Edo-period river festivals, about 20,000 fireworks are launched from two sites.
August
Manrei Toro Kuyo-e (Lantern Memorial)
Aug 15Senso-ji Main Hall
An Obon service lighting lanterns in memory of ancestors and all spirits.
Asakusa Samba Carnival
Last Saturday of AugustUmamichi-dori to Kaminarimon-dori
A summer tradition since 1981: samba teams compete in a parade contest with dazzling costumes and dance.
October
Kappabashi Tool Festival
The week including Oct 9 (Tool Day)Kappabashi Kitchen Town
Kitchenware and tableware shops along the street hold sales — a chance to buy professional tools at good prices.
Kiku Kuyo-e (Chrysanthemum Offering)
Oct 18Senso-ji
Visitors offer chrysanthemums and take home blessed ones as charms. The Golden Dragon Dance is also performed.
November
Tokyo Jidai Matsuri
Nov 3 (Culture Day)Around Senso-ji
A grand costume procession through Asakusa depicting figures and customs from Tokyo's history.
Tori-no-Ichi Fair
Rooster days in NovemberOtori Shrine (Senzoku)
Crowds buy lucky bamboo rakes (kumade) for fortune and business success. Held on two or three days depending on the year.
Shichi-Go-San Blessings
Daily around Nov 15Senso-ji Main Hall
Prayers for the healthy growth of children aged three, five and seven.
December
Hagoita-Ichi (Battledore Fair)
Dec 17–19Senso-ji grounds
The year-end fair for Kannon's last fete day, with stalls selling ornate decorated battledores.
Hoshi Kuyo-e (Star Festival)
Winter solsticeSenso-ji Main Hall
A service to ward off misfortune and pray for good luck in the new year.
New Year's Eve Bell
Dec 31Bentenyama, Senso-ji
The historic Edo time bell on Bentenyama is struck 108 times to dispel worldly desires.