The Shinagawa Shukuba Festival, also known as the Shinagawa Shukuba Matsuri, is a festival celebrating Shinagawa’s history as the first rest stop on the Tokaidō Road heading south. What happens? The Tokaidō was Japan’s main east-west route linking Edo (Tokyo) with Kyoto during the Edo period. This is a fun excuse for the locals to put on fancy dress and pretend to be samurai, geisha, courtesans, and other historical characters. The Oiran Dochu -- courtesan procession -- will be back for 2024. Schedule 2024 The Oiran Dochu will take place on Saturday, September 28 from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. as well as a night parade on the same day from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Another parade with take place on Sunday, September 29 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. How to get there The festival will be happening on Saturday and Sunday along a stretch of the ‘Old Tokaidō’ (now a suburban street) between Shimbamba and Aomono Yokocho stations on the Keikyu Main Line. Both around a 5-minute train ride from Shinagawa Station.