A Tenka Matsuri, with a courtly procession and mikoshi bringing color to central Tokyo
Sanno Festival (Chiyoda City)
The 2026 edition of Sanno Festival (Chiyoda City) has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/06/07 〜 2026/06/17Ended
- Season / frequency
- Mid-June / The main festival takes place once every 2 years
- Location
- Hie Shrine
- Area
- Tokyo Metropolis・Chiyoda City(Within Tokyo: approx. 15 min–1 h by train (central areas))Prefecture-level estimate to a main station or airport, not the venue. Airport access, check-in and onward travel are extra; remote areas and islands can take much longer.
- Features
- Highlights and activities
- Participation / viewing
- Open to public participation / spectators welcome
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
The Sanno Festival is a traditional festival passed down with Hie Shrine at its heart. In 2026, it was the main festival held once every 2 years, and the Shinkosai procession in courtly attire traveled through central Tokyo, including the Imperial Palace, Tokyo Station, and Ginza. A variety of events, including and processions and a children’s procession, offer a chance to experience festival culture dating back to the Edo period.
About Sanno Festival (Chiyoda City)
Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: 江戸村のとくぞう (Edomura no Tokuzo) File:Hie jinjya-7.jpg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 Own work by the contributorDisplay size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: 江戸村のとくぞう (Edomura no Tokuzo) File:Hie jinjya-8.jpg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 Own work by the contributorDisplay size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: 江戸村のとくぞう (Edomura no Tokuzo) File:Hie jinjya-5.jpg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 Own work by the contributorDisplay size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.The Sanno Festival is held at Hie Shrine in Nagatacho, Chiyoda City, Tokyo. Its official name is the “Hie Shrine Grand Festival.”
Along with the Kanda Festival and Fukagawa Festival, it is counted as one of the three great festivals of Edo and carries on the tradition of the “Tenka Matsuri,” associated with Edo Castle and the Tokugawa shogun family.
In the main festival year, events include the Shinkosai and mikoshi processions by parishioner associations, bringing together the city center’s streetscape and a historic festival.
Source: 山王祭｜日枝神社
Festival highlights
The main highlight is the Shinkosai, a grand procession in courtly attire that winds through modern central Tokyo, including the Imperial Palace, Tokyo Station, and Ginza.
The Rengo Miyairi, when mikoshi bearers carry the mikoshi up Hie Shrine’s 52 stone steps, is another powerful moment in the festival.
The procession also features items such as mikoshi and dashi passed down from the Edo period, as well as the Ebisu dashi, which appeared in 2026.
Source: 【2026年】山王祭 楽しみ方ガイド | 【公式】東京都千代田区の観光情報公式サイト / Visit Chiyoda
A Tenka Matsuri, with a courtly procession and mikoshi bringing color to central Tokyo
What to expect
During the festival, events include the Shinkosai procession, the Rengo Miyairi of parishioner districts, a children’s procession, a summer evening festival, and the dedication of picture lanterns.
For the Shinkosai, the procession departs from Hie Shrine, travels through central Tokyo, and returns to Hie Shrine in the evening.
Visitors can watch traditional events on the , and tea and sweets are served and votive items distributed during the festival.
How to take part
The festival as a whole is mainly enjoyed by watching the procession and various events, but some mikoshi processions organized by neighborhood associations invite local participants.
For the 2026 Bancho Union Mikoshi and Dashi Procession, information said that people could join on the day without registering in advance.
Children and families are welcome to take part, and were also available to borrow.
For the 2026 Bancho Union Mikoshi and Dashi Procession, participants were instructed to gather at the Yotsubancho Mikoshi Depot at 11 a.m. and depart at 11:20 a.m.
No advance registration is required; you can join on the day.
If you borrow a happi, the rental fee is 1,000 yen, including cleaning.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Hie Shrine (2-10-5 Nagatacho, Chiyoda City, Tokyo).
The Shinkosai procession travels through central Tokyo, including the Imperial Palace, Tokyo Station, Ginza, and Nihonbashi.
- Train and bus
It is a 3-minute walk from Exit 2 of Akasaka Station on the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line; a 3-minute walk from Exit 7 of Tameike-Sanno Station on the Ginza and Namboku Lines; a 5-minute walk from Exit 5 of Kokkai-gijidomae Station on the Chiyoda Line; and an 8-minute walk from Exit 11 of Akasaka-mitsuke Station on the Ginza and Marunouchi Lines.
- By car
It is a 5-minute drive from the Kasumigaseki Interchange on the Shuto Expressway.
- Parking
Parking is available at Hie Shrine.
Address 2-10-5 Nagatacho, Chiyoda City, Tokyo
Dates and season
2026 Event Information (The listed dates have passed)
The 2026 Sanno Festival was held from June 7 (Sunday) through June 17 (Wednesday).
The schedule stated that the Shinkosai would run from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on June 12 (Friday), the children’s procession would take place at noon and 2:30 p.m. on June 14 (Sunday), and the summer evening festival was scheduled to start at 6 p.m. from June 13 (Saturday) through the 15th (Monday).
The 2026 events have concluded.
Source: 山王祭／東京の観光公式サイトGO TOKYO
Accommodation and hotels PR
Showing nearby accommodation.
Prices and availability are current at the time of retrieval. For multi-night stays, only the first night’s price is shown. Confirm the final price and directions to the venue with the booking provider. Select your dates again when using the area search link. Search area: within 3 km of Central Tokyo Metropolis / Chiyoda City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
The Shinkosai procession travels across a wide area of central Tokyo, so its arrival time varies depending on where you watch.
On June 12, 2026, Nijunana-dori and Bancho Gakuen-dori were scheduled to be closed to traffic from 9 to 10 a.m., while traffic on one side of NTV-dori and Otsuma-dori was scheduled to be restricted.
If you follow the procession, be mindful of traffic restrictions and crowds, and follow local instructions.
Source: 【注意喚起】6月12日(金) 山王祭神幸祭に伴う交通規制について|新着情報|【公式】東京都千代田区の観光情報公式サイト / Visit Chiyoda
Nearby attractions
On the west side of the grounds at Hie Shrine is the Senbon , a row of vermilion torii gates.
Near the Shinkosai route is leafy Shimizudani Park, introduced as a place to stop by between festival events.
The Sakashita Gate of the Imperial Palace and the former site of Wadakura Gate are also nearby spots where visitors can sense the Shinkosai’s history and its connection to Edo Castle.
Hie Shrine
東京都千代田区の神社
日比谷公園
東京都の公園
東京国立近代美術館
北の丸公園にある美術館
神田明神
東京都千代田区の神社
写真：No machine-readable author provided. Fg2 assumed (based on copyright claims). / Public domain
Photo source ·
靖国神社
東京都千代田区の神社
Origins and History of Sanno Festival (Chiyoda City)
The Sanno Festival developed under the protection of the Edo shogunate because Hie Shrine was regarded as the ujigami deity of Edo Castle and the Tokugawa shogun family.
In 1615, dashi and mikoshi were permitted to enter Edo Castle, and the festival became a Tenka Matsuri viewed by the shogun.
From 1681 onward, it was held every other year, alternating with the Kanda Festival, and it has continued into modern times despite the decline of dashi and interruptions caused by wartime damage.
Source: 山王祭 (千代田区) - Wikipedia
Official information
The Hie Shrine Sanno Festival official website provides information on the schedule, the Shinkosai route, and event details.
The Shinkosai’s location information and procession route can also be viewed on Hie Shrine’s digital festival map.
The Chiyoda City tourism website summarizes the 2026 event schedule and highlights.
Sanno Festival (Chiyoda City) at a Glance
The Sanno Festival is a festival in Chiyoda City that carries on the tradition of Edo’s Tenka Matsuri, with Hie Shrine as its starting point.
In the main festival year, a variety of events take place, including the Shinkosai in courtly attire, the Rengo Miyairi of mikoshi, and a children’s procession.
In 2026, the festival ran from June 7 through the 17th, and the Shinkosai linked historic sites in central Tokyo with its modern streetscape.
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/10/19
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