Sanja Matsuri 2027 at a glance
Sanja Matsuri is held by the Asakusa Shrine, the Shinto shrine beside the Buddhist temple Senso-ji. The shrine has published the 2027 festival for Friday to Sunday, 14 to 16 May 2027. On Thursday, 13 May at 7 p.m. a ceremony comes first, in which the deities are placed in the portable shrines, called mikoshi. All dates are subject to change, so check the current programme before you book travel.
The festival is tied to the founding story of Senso-ji. According to tradition, two brothers found a statue of Kannon in the Sumida River in the year 628, and a third man set up a place of worship for it. The Asakusa Shrine honours the three people of this story. You can read the full tale on our history page.
The schedule day by day
Times as published for 2027. Rain and other changes can alter them.
| Date | Time | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday, 13 May | 7 p.m. | Ceremony placing the deities in the mikoshi |
| Friday, 14 May | 1 p.m. | Large procession, cancelled in rain |
| Saturday, 15 May | 12 noon | Neighbourhood mikoshi |
| Sunday, 16 May | 7 a.m. | The 3 main mikoshi leave the shrine |
| Sunday, 16 May | About 7 to 8 p.m. | The main mikoshi return |
The festival is a religious event run by the shrine and the neighbourhood groups. Watch from the side of the street and follow the instructions of marshals and police.
Asakusa tours around the festival
Guided walks, food tours and other ways to see Asakusa, with live prices and availability.
What to expect on each day
A rough guide to the programme and the crowds.
Friday: the large procession
The procession starts at 1 p.m. and is called off in rain. Expect crowds near the shrine and the temple, so arrive well before the start if you want a view.
Saturday: neighbourhood mikoshi
The neighbourhood mikoshi go out from 12 noon. With around 100 of them from 44 communities, this is a neighbourhood event rather than a single show in one place.
Sunday: the main mikoshi
The three main mikoshi leave at 7 a.m. and return at about 7 to 8 p.m. It is the longest day of the programme and also the day with road restrictions. Pick one spot and let the festival come to you, rather than chasing it through the crowd.
The route map
Route maps on the shrine's pages can still show an earlier year. Look for the 2027 map shortly before the festival and do not rely on last year's route.
Getting around on festival days
On Sunday, 16 May the programme lists traffic restrictions on Kaminarimon-dori from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Umamichi-dori from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Do not count on a taxi or a car getting close to the temple.
The train is the better choice. The Ginza, Toei Asakusa, Tobu Skytree and Tsukuba Express lines each have a station called Asakusa, and the temple lists about 5 minutes on foot from them. The names are the same, but the stations are separate, so check which one is closest to your hotel. Our getting there guide has the exits.
The temple grounds are open around the clock, while the main hall keeps its own hours. See opening hours before you plan a visit around the festival.
Other festivals at Senso-ji
If the dates of Sanja Matsuri do not fit your trip.
Hozuki-Ichi, 9 and 10 July
A yearly market selling ground-cherry plants in the temple area. By tradition, worship on these days counts as 46,000 days of merit. That is a religious belief, not a measurable effect.
Hagoita-Ichi, 17 to 19 December
A market for decorative battledore paddles called hagoita. The 18th is the last Kannon festival day of the year.
Hatsumode, 1 to 7 January
The first temple visit of the new year. The district describes the heaviest crowds from 1 to 3 January, with guided walking routes and limited entry. Nakamise-dori can be used as a one-way approach. For the countdown elsewhere in the city, see New Year's Eve in Shibuya.
Sanja Matsuri: frequently asked questions
When is Sanja Matsuri in 2027?
The Asakusa Shrine has published Friday to Sunday, 14 to 16 May 2027, with a ceremony on Thursday, 13 May at 7 p.m. The dates can change, so check the current programme before you book.
What is a mikoshi?
A mikoshi is a portable shrine that carries a deity through the neighbourhood during a Shinto festival. At Sanja Matsuri there are 3 main mikoshi and around 100 neighbourhood mikoshi from 44 communities.
What happens if it rains?
The large procession on Friday, 14 May at 1 p.m. is cancelled in rain. For the other parts of the programme, check the shrine's current notices on the day.
Can I drive to Asakusa during the festival?
Not reliably. On Sunday, 16 May, Kaminarimon-dori is restricted from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Umamichi-dori from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Take the train to one of the Asakusa stations.
Is Sanja Matsuri a Senso-ji festival?
It is held by the Asakusa Shrine, which stands next to Senso-ji and is a separate Shinto shrine. The two share the same founding story, but the shrine runs the festival.