Written by Adriana Paradiso
Researched by Alexandra Ziminski
The Fukagawa Festival is one of the big three Shintō festivals of Tokyo along with the Sanno Matsuri and the Kanda Matsuri.
What happens?
The festival generally happens around August 15, but the actual schedule may vary slightly from year to year. The not-to-miss events are the water-throwing and mikoshi (portable shrine) processions. The full schedule includes music performances, parades, and Noh Theater. The festival is at its rowdiest when it’s a “hon matsuri” year. The Hon Matsuri happens every three years — the next is 2026.
Schedue 2025
On Sunday, August 17, the massive portable shrine is scheduled to be paraded around the neighborhood, setting off from from Tomioka Hachimangū Shrine at 7 a.m. and returning around 5 p.m. This is a big deal, because the last time was back in 2022. In other words, expect there to be plenty of fanfare. Water is thrown on the portable shrines throughout the route, but especially at Eitai Bridge. The best time to go is when they are making their way back to the shrine between 3 and 5 p.m.
Other events include taiko drumming, music, dancing, and shrine maiden performances from August 13 to August 17.
How to get there
The festival is centered around Tomioka Hachimangū Shrine (also referred to as Fukagawa Shrine). The closest stations are Monzennakacho on the Oedo and Tozai lines and Kiba Station on the Tozai Line.
- 320 m from Monzennakachō Station Tozai Line (T12)Oedo Line (E15)
- 0.7 km from Kiba Station Tozai Line (T13)
- 0.8 km from Etchūjima Station Keiyō Line (JE3)
