Tokyo Jidai Festival

A festival that depicted history from Edo to Tokyo through costumes and a procession, with the area around Sensoji Temple as its setting.

About Tokyo Jidai Festival

The Tokyo Jidai Festival is a period procession held around Sensoji Temple that depicts the changing history and culture from Edo to Tokyo.

A costume procession set off from Sensoji Temple and wound through the streets of Asakusa, introducing figures and customs from various periods.

It was held every year on November 3 from 1988, and ended after the 2013 festival.

It was an event where visitors could experience Asakusa’s historic streetscape and Edo-Tokyo culture together.

Source: 東京時代まつり - Wikipedia / 仲見世｜東京時代祭（浅草寺周辺）

Festival highlights

The main highlight was a large-scale historical procession that traced several periods in sequence.

The procession featured diverse scenes, including the Golden Dragon Dance; Minamoto no Yoritomo and Hojo Masako; Tokugawa Ieyasu; ladies of the Ooku; a daimyo procession; the raid of the loyal retainers; Edo kabuki; and the opening of Japan to Western influence.

A distinctive feature was the procession of costumes and performances by 30 teams, about 1,600 people, moving around Sensoji Temple and bringing a historical picture scroll to life in the streets.

A grand procession tracing Edo-Tokyo history through Asakusa

What to expect

The procession set off from the plaza north of the main hall of Sensoji Temple, continued through the streets of Asakusa, and headed for the western end of Kaminarimon Street.

The program included the manifestation of the Asakusa Kannon, the founding of Edo, Tokugawa Ieyasu’s entry into Edo, sankin-kotai (alternate attendance), the Genroku Cherry Blossom Dance, Edo kabuki, the arrival of the Black Ships, and the opening of Japan to Western influence.

Spectators could enjoy watching the participants in period costumes and the performances pass by in sequence from along the route.

How to take part

The Tokyo Jidai Matsuri Executive Committee has since disbanded, and the festival itself has ended, so it cannot be presented as an event open to general participation.

In the past, about 1,600 people formed the procession in 30 teams, with participants said to have been made up of local residents and volunteers.

Source: 東京時代まつり（東京都）の見どころ｜Nipponexus

Location and access

Venue and address: The procession set off from the plaza north of the main hall of Sensoji Temple and traveled as far as the western end of Kaminarimon Street.
Address: 2-3-1 Asakusa, Taito City, Tokyo.
Train and bus: It is a 5-minute walk to the main hall of Sensoji Temple from Asakusa Station on the Tobu Isesaki Line, Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, or Tsukuba Express, and a 7-minute walk from Asakusa Station on the Toei Asakusa Line.

Address Around 2-3-1 Asakusa, Taito City, Tokyo

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Dates and season

Frequency: Held annually, but ended after the 2013 festival

Accommodation and hotels PR

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 / Taito City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)

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Tips for your visit

When the festival was held in the past, it went ahead in light rain and was canceled in severe weather.

東京都台東区の神社

Visit the official page ↗

Photo and data sources

写真：Kakidai / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Facility data source

Origins and History of Tokyo Jidai Festival

The Tokyo Jidai Festival began in 1988 and has used processions around Sensoji Temple to depict history from Edo to Tokyo.

It was held on Culture Day every year on November 3, with 25 editions through its final year in 2013.

The 2014 event was canceled due to the impact of Taito City’s improper accounting issue, and plans to resume it in 2015 did not come to fruition.

The executive committee was subsequently set to disband, bringing its 25-year history to a close.

Official information

The Tokyo Jidai Festival was organized by the Tokyo Jidai Festival Executive Committee.

Past information listed the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Taito City, and others as supporters.