A month-by-month guide to the main festivals and fairs in Taito City: Shitaya Shrine and Sanja Matsuri in May, Hozuki-ichi and the Sumida River fireworks in July, Tori-no-ichi in November, and Hagoita-ichi in December.
- May has two shrine festivals: Shitaya Shrine around May 11 and Sanja Matsuri on the third weekend.
- Senso-ji's Hozuki-ichi is held on July 9 and 10, and its Hagoita-ichi on December 17 to 19.
- Tori-no-ichi follows the zodiac calendar, so its November dates move every year.
- All of these events are crowded; check official dates and go early if you can.
Next Step
Plan a calligraphy class around your festival day
Classes are held near Inaricho Station, between Ueno and Asakusa, with guidance in English.
May: Shitaya Shrine festival and Sanja Matsuri
Shitaya Shrine in Higashi-Ueno holds its annual festival around May 11, usually on the nearest weekend. Neighborhood associations carry their own portable shrines (mikoshi) through the streets. The festival alternates by year: in the main festival year the shrine's own large mikoshi goes out, and in other years the festival is smaller.
Sanja Matsuri, the festival of Asakusa Shrine next to Senso-ji, is held on the third weekend of May. The biggest day is Sunday, when the shrine's three main mikoshi are carried out into the streets of Asakusa. It is one of the most crowded events in Tokyo, so expect packed streets around Senso-ji all weekend.
- Shitaya Shrine: around May 11, main festival every other year
- Sanja Matsuri: third weekend of May, Asakusa Shrine
July: Hozuki-ichi and the Sumida River fireworks
Senso-ji holds Shiman-rokusen-nichi on July 9 and 10. A visit on this day is traditionally said to bring merit equal to 46,000 days of visits. During the same two days the temple grounds fill with stalls selling hozuki, potted Chinese lantern plants, which is why the event is known as Hozuki-ichi.
The Sumida River Fireworks Festival is traditionally held on the last Saturday of July, with two launch sites along the river in the Asakusa area. In 2026 it was held on July 25. Rain can postpone or cancel it, so check the official notice on the day.
November: Tori-no-ichi
Tori-no-ichi is held on the days of the rooster in November, set by the traditional zodiac calendar. The Asakusa fair takes place at Otori Shrine and the neighboring Chokokuji Temple in Senzoku, and the tradition is said to have started in this area. Some years have two rooster days and some have three.
Stalls sell kumade, decorated rakes said to rake in good fortune and business success. Prices are negotiated, and when a sale is made the seller and buyer often finish with rhythmic hand clapping. According to the Tokyo tourism site, the 2026 dates are November 7 and November 19.
December: Hagoita-ichi
Senso-ji holds its year-end fair, known as Hagoita-ichi, on December 17, 18, and 19 each year. Stalls on the temple grounds sell decorated hagoita, wooden paddles from the New Year game hanetsuki, along with other New Year goods. The fair grew out of an Edo-period year-end market held on the temple's Kannon festival days.
Hours in recent years have been about 9:00 to 19:30, but check the current notice.
Tips for festival days
Festival days in Asakusa are crowded, and some streets may close to traffic during processions. If you want to see a festival and still have a calm part of the day, Inaricho Station is 2 stops from Asakusa and 1 stop from Ueno on the Ginza Line.
- Check the official dates for the current year
- Carry cash; many stalls do not take cards
- Go early in the day for smaller crowds
- Allow extra time for trains and road closures
A quieter activity between festivals
Our calligraphy classes are held in Shitaya Jinja Kaikan, the hall of Shitaya Shrine, a 2-minute walk from Inaricho Station. Many guests combine a morning at Senso-ji with a 60-minute class guided in English, and take their finished piece home. During the Shitaya Shrine festival the neighborhood is busy, so contact us if your class date falls on that weekend.