Sanno Matsuri Festival is going to be held between June 7 (Fri) and June 17 (Mon) in 2024 for the first time in six years after Covid-19 pandemic. Sanno Matsuri Festival, known as one of the three major Edo festivals, is visited by many people every year. The highlight is Jinkosai Festival held on 7th. The 300 meter-long festival procession is parading from Hie Jinja Shirine to around Imperial Palace. It is overwhelming to see bout 500 representative officials and young parishioners in dynasty costumes parade around the town with two imperial carriages, one portable shirine and five floats parade around the town. You can enjoy watching the collaboration of the modern landscape and the festival procession beyond ages. This time we are going to introduce our recommended photogenic spots of Jinkosai Festival and good places to take a rest nearby. Don't fail to take photos of the moments happening only once in two years.
With calls from Ofusegiko guards as a sign, the festival procession leaves Hie-Jinja Shrine. On Kojimachi-Odori St., you can take a photo of the procession against Sophia University and Yotsuya Station. At this spot, take a photo with the contrast of the modern streetscape and the historical festival procession.
First of all, Arcadia Ichigaya Shigaku Kaikan that stands facing the moat of Ichigaya is a good place to take a break. This place is used as a center of national private unniversity officials and as a hotel, banquet hall and restaurant. This is a complex suitable for various purposes.
ARCADIA ICHIGAYA SHIGAKU KAIKAN Read more
Address | 4-2-25 Kudan-Kita,Chiyoda-ku,Tokyo,Japan ZIP1020073 |
TEL | 03-3261-9921 |
Before moved to the present place, Hie-Jinja Shrine was located in the area where National Theatre is. The festival procession makes a brief stop when it reaches National Theatre and Imperial Sojourn Festival is conducted. You can see two imperial carriages and one portable shrine gather all together. You don't want to fail to take a photo of the scene.
Hotel Grand Arc Hanzomon Read more
Address | 1-1 Hayabusacho, Chiyoda City, Tokyo |
TEL | 03-3288-0111 |
The special feature spot of Royal Progress Festival is how the festival procession goes down the Kokyo-zaka Slope. With buildings in Marunouchi as a background, it is a highlight to the see Imperial Carriages and the Portable Shrine stand side by side. You can take a photo that looks as if the festival procession traveled into today from Edo era.
If you want to take a rest, it is recommended to visit a complex, Marunouchi Brick Square. Inside the building, there are a wide variety of restaurants from cafes, Italian and French restaurants to curry and ramen restaurants you can stop by easily.
They have a popular chololateria, CACAO SAMPA and the world's first ECHIRE butter specialty shop, ECHIRE MAISON DU BEURRE. You can buy their sweets and enjoy sitting down on the bench at Ichigokan Square in the yard. Surrounded by rich greenery, which makes you forget that you are in the middle of the urbarn city, you can feel refreshed.
Then, the procession moves on to Gyoko-dori Ave. stretching toward Tokyo Station. Gyoko-dori Ave., which was completed in 1926 (Taisho 15), is a noted place with taste of Taisho era. To be able to see the scene of the mixture of Edo, Taisho eras and the present time is what only JInko Matsuri Festival can offer.
For information, Ginza Chuo-dori Ave. is the place where they couldn't conduct royal progress in Edo era. So when watching the modern Shinkosai Festival, Ginza Chuo-dori Ave. is a recommended place to take a photo.
TOKYO TORCH Terrace Read more
Address | 2-6-4 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo |
Business Hour | レストラン 平日・土曜 11:00~23:00 日曜・祝日 11:00~22:00 カフェ 平日 7:00~20:00 土曜日 8:00~20:00 日・祝 休業 ショップ 7:00~23:00 |
Going further, you'll find Imperial Hotel, synonymous for a Japanese hotel. It was built as a Japanese State guest house in Meiji era. The festival procession parading in front of this hotel. You can see this scene only on this day.
Following the festival procession and heading for Hibiya, you'll see Hibiya Public Hall. You can take a photo of the festival procession against a Tokyo Metropolitan designated tangible cultural property, Hibiya Public Hall.
On your way for Shinbashi from Hibiya, it is recommended to stop ty Hibiya OKUROJI under the elevated railway tracks between Yurakucho and Shinbashi Stations. Inside the facility stretching about 300 meters, you can see unique restaurants, miscellaneous goods shops and so on stand side by side.
HIBIYA OKUROJI Read more
Address | 1-7-1, Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku |
Business Hour | 店舗により異なる |
After the royal progress, the festival procession goes back to Hie-jinja Shrine. The moment of returning to Hie-Jinja is the moment of finishing up the procession and also a big chance to take a photo. Get your camera ready so that you won't miss this powerful moment.
ARCADIA ICHIGAYA SHIGAKU KAIKAN
Iidabashi・Kudan・Ichigaya・Kitanomaru
Detail
Hotel Grand Arc Hanzomon
Koujimachi・Hanzoumon・Nagatacho
Detail
Marunouchi BRICK SQUARE
Imperial Palace・ Tokyo Sta.・ Hibiya
Detail
TOKYO TORCH Terrace
Imperial Palace・ Tokyo Sta.・ Hibiya
Detail
HIBIYA OKUROJI
Imperial Palace・ Tokyo Sta.・ Hibiya
Detail
tokyo garden terrace kioicho
Koujimachi・Hanzoumon・Nagatacho
Detail
At Jinkosai Festival, when you see the quaint festival procession, you cannot help feeling historic atomosphere and when you see the vibrant Miyairi (the portable shrine, Imperial carriages and floats come back to the shrine), you can get energized. Every moment is picturesque, so lots of spectators cannot stop taking pictures. However, the procession goes a long distance and the festival takes a long time, so take part in it having breaks. It can surely be your precious memory.