Kanda Matsuri神田祭

The festival of Kanda Myōjin, guardian shrine of Edo. In the Edo period its procession of mikoshi and floats entered Edo Castle to be viewed by the shogun, earning it the name "Tenka Matsuri," the festival of the realm.

Kanda Matsuri is celebrated in full, with its divine procession, every two years. In a main-festival year it opens with the transfer of the deities to the mikoshi, the Shinkōsai procession travels through Kanda, Nihonbashi, Ōtemachi–Marunouchi and Akihabara, and the neighbourhood mikoshi enter the shrine one after another. In the alternate years — the kagematsuri, or "shadow festival" — there is no procession or mikoshi entry, and only the grand rite (reitaisai), the most important ceremony of the festival, is held on May 15.

This is a religious rite rooted in a shrine or temple. Please follow the guidance of the organizers and clergy, and take care not to disrupt the ceremonies.

According to Kanda Myōjin, Kanda Matsuri enjoyed the patronage of the Tokugawa shogunate, and because its procession of two mikoshi with numerous floats and attached pageants entered the inner enclosure of Edo Castle, it came to be called the "Tenka Matsuri." It came to be held in alternate years with the Sannō Matsuri, and has been held every two years ever since. In the Meiji period the floats gradually disappeared; in the Taishō period the festival became a mikoshi procession, with each neighbourhood making and carrying its own mikoshi; after the war it was renamed Shinkōsai, first held under that name in 1952.

Source: 神田明神(external site, opens in a new tab)

At the grand rite, food offerings are presented, the chief priest recites a norito prayer for the peace of the nation and the safety of the parishioners, shrine maidens perform a sacred dance, and representatives of the parish offer tamagushi branches. The entry of the mikoshi into the shrine lies at the heart of the festival, binding the parish neighbourhoods to their shrine in ties that reach back to Edo.

Source: 神田明神(external site, opens in a new tab)

1. 01

   Shinkōsai (divine procession)

   In a main-festival year, the procession bearing the deities in their palanquins travels through the parish areas.

2. 02

   Mikoshi miyairi

   The neighbourhood mikoshi enter Kanda Myōjin together.

3. 03

   Reitaisai (grand annual rite)

   The most important rite of the festival, with food offerings, the norito prayer, a shrine maidens' dance and tamagushi offerings.

• Kanda Matsuri令和七年 神田祭 ３分ハイライト

• Kanda Matsuri令和７年神田祭　神輿宮入（再編集版）

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Main and "shadow" festival years alternate. 2026 was a shadow-festival year, so there was no procession or mikoshi entry, only the grand rite. Check Kanda Myōjin's official information for the schedule.

Traffic controls, seating and fees change every year. Always check the official website for the latest information.

Official website — kandamatsuri.com(external site, opens in a new tab)

• Keep quiet during the rites and watch without disturbing the priests or participants.
• Do not block the mikoshi; follow the bearers' and security staff's directions.
• Observe the manners of a worshipper within the precincts.

1. 1.神田祭特設サイト(external site, opens in a new tab)神田明神 · Accessed 2026-09-26
2. 2.神田祭特設サイト｜神田祭の歴史(external site, opens in a new tab)神田明神 · Accessed 2026-09-26
3. 3.例大祭｜神田祭特設サイト(external site, opens in a new tab)神田明神 · Accessed 2026-09-26
4. 4.年中行事｜江戸総鎮守 神田明神(external site, opens in a new tab)神田明神 · Accessed 2026-09-26
5. 5.Kanda Shrine - Wikipedia(external site, opens in a new tab)Wikipedia · Accessed 2026-09-26