EAT IN ASIA / Lifestyle / Art & culture
Sanja Matsuri Festival – feel the Japanese spirit and enjoy food tasting around Asakusa Shrine
Sanja Matsuri is one of the most spectacular festivals in Japan. It is one of so called ‘Three Great Shinto Festivals in Tokyo’ (including Sanno Festival and Kanda Festival). It takes place in May during the first three weekends.
How does the Sanja Matsuri Festival look like?
It is quite a unique festival in which local people dressed in a special way carry a portable shrine called ‘mikoshi’. Actually, they are not carrying it in a simple way but tossing it.
The whole celebration usually lasts three days. Starts on Friday and lasts till Sunday. Sunday is also the most busy and spectacular day.
The first day of the Sanja Matsuri Festival is mainly concentrated on the procession departing from Sensōji Temple. The next day, local processions with ‘mikoshi’ are also paraded from the Asakusa Shrine.
Finally, on Sunday, the day starts with ‘mikoshi’ parades around the Asakusa Shrine and the whole Asakusa area. Then, in the afternoon drum performances take place at Asakusa Shrine. Also there happens a special event in which a shrine maiden is dancing.
The Sanja Matsuri Festival lasts till late hours and is accompanied by many attractions. Food stalls are concentrated around the Sensōji Temple. Many local specialties can be tried there. Skewers, okonomiyaki, seafood cakes, crab sticks, yakisoba noodles and of course many sweets.
Sanja Matsuri Festival food stalls
Of course the festival would not be complete without snacks, light meals and drinks. That is it! It is just a part of the culture and it is also a big attraction for many people. And that is not only for tourists but especially for all locals. They just love it! So, you should not be surprised to see them buying one snack after another. It is a really big party.
Snacks and light meals during the Sanja Matsuri Festival
Food stalls are mainly concentrated around the Asakusa Shrine. No matter how hungry you were, you would find something that would meet your needs and tastes. Of sourse, the main part create Japanese staples like, mentioned above, okonomiyaki and yakisoba noodles. But that is not all.
Crispy potatoes, cotton candies, lolipops, burgers and, of course, a wide selection of ice creams and sweets.
Apart from that, you should definitively try awesome, colorful bananas. They are really beautiful and masterpiecies. Just look how they are garnished and how funny they look!
Beverages during the Sanja Matsuri Festival
Finally, as the wheather is really good and high temperatures start rising, you will surely need something to drink. Cold drinks are available everywhere. Starting from well known international carbonate drinks like coca-cola, fanta or sprite and ending on local flavored beverages. Of course, tea is a must. Try a regular Japanese green tea or a jasmine one. I really do recommend these two types.
Apart from that, beer and stronger alcohols are a must too!
When you get a little bit more hungry, have a Japanese-style soup and relax on the lane.
Do not miss!
Finally, finish your lunch with a delicious matcha custurd puff! That is sooooo good! Well, actually whenever we have an otpion to have it, we buy it! It conquered our hearts (we ate them for the first time in Kyoto on our stroll along old streets of Ninezaka and Sannezaka - you can read more about it in the post Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka - strawberries, mochi and matcha desserts in Kyoto's Best Old Streets) and is so typical for Japan!
Delicious!
Date: 2024-05-21
Author: Beti – A passionate traveler and lover of Asian cuisine, especially Thai and Japanese dishes, Bernadeta brings her culinary and cultural experiences to life in her writing. Beyond her travels, she’s an avid technology enthusiast with a deep interest in data processing, merging her love for exploration with analytical insights.
Photographer: Adalbert – An aficionado of computers and photography, Adalbert captures the essence of diverse cuisines with a discerning eye. A connoisseur of rich flavors and particularly fond of meat-based dishes, he combines his technical skills with his passion for the culinary arts in every shot.
