Tokyo's Sanno Matsuri Grand Festival Returns This June
Sanno Matsuri is one of Edo’s three great festivals — alongside Kanda Matsuri and Fukagawa Matsuri — and 2026 brings the full grand procession back to central Tokyo for the first time since 2024. The festival is centred on Hie Shrine in Akasaka and runs from 7 to 17 June 2026, with the centrepiece Shinkosai parade threading through some of the most recognisable streets in the city.
The Sanno Matsuri only holds its major procession in even-numbered years, which makes 2026 a genuine opportunity for travellers planning a June Japan trip. The Shinkosai parade features hundreds of participants in Heian-period court dress (costumes echoing dress styles roughly 1,000 years old), portable mikoshi shrines carried on the shoulders of groups of devotees, traditional musicians, and lacquered floats. The route passes through Akasaka, Tameike, and Toranomon before the procession returns to Hie Shrine — a remarkable spectacle of living tradition on the streets of one of the world’s most modern cities.
Beyond the main procession days, the festival period includes nightly lantern-lit prayer ceremonies at the shrine, sake offerings, and smaller ritual events throughout the two-week period. Local restaurants and stalls around Akasaka set up outdoor eating areas in the evenings.
Getting there
Hie Shrine is accessible from Tokyo city centre via Akasaka or Tameike-Sanno stations on the Tokyo Metro. Viewing the procession and entering the shrine grounds is free. For a broader guided exploration of Tokyo traditions, Tokyo cultural tours offer a helpful introduction for first-time visitors. The specific date within the 7–17 June window when the grand Shinkosai parade takes place is confirmed closer to the festival — check the Hie Shrine official schedule as your visit approaches.
June travel conditions
June sits in Japan’s rainy season (tsuyu), which typically extends from early June into mid-July. Pack a compact umbrella and note that outdoor evening events may be adjusted in the event of heavy rain. Temperatures in Tokyo in June hover around 22–27°C, making it comfortable to walk between sites even on wet days.
For a broader overview of Japan’s seasonal events and when to plan around them, our best time to visit Japan guide covers month-by-month conditions across the country.
If you are combining Tokyo with a wider Japan trip, our Japan Golden Route itinerary covers Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, and Osaka — most visitors allocate three to five nights in Tokyo before heading west. Arriving in Tokyo in early-to-mid June places you within the Sanno Matsuri window.