1. Published by Tourist Information Center of Japan National Tourism Organization and all rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. ©2013 Japan National Tourism Organization. 2. Dates and functions are subject to change without notice. Be sure to check the latest information in advance. 3. Events marked with ◎ are the major events. 4. Dates of events marked with ◇ are the same every year. 5. Japanese explanations appearing at the bottom of each entry give the name of the event and the nearest railway station in Japanese. Point to this Japanese when you need help from a Japanese passerby. 6. Please refer to URL (basically in Japanese) for each event. 7. The subway Lines and Station Numbers are indicated in parentheses ( ). Note: The Internet Website of Japan National Tourism Organization is available at <http://www.jnto.go.jp>. Calendar Events to be enjoyed in May 2013 TOKYO 東京 Ｄａｔｅ Apr. 6 ～ May 6 Bunkyo Tsutsuji Matsuri, Azalea Festival at Nezu Shrine, Bunkyo-ku. One can enjoy a view of azelea blossoms in the precincts of the Shrine. Performing arts such as Gongen-Taiko (Japanese drumming performance) and Urayasu-no-mai (Shinto dance with music) are held in the precincts of the Shrine from 12 noon on May 3rd, 4th and 5th. Admission to the Azalea Garden is \200. http://www.nedujinja.or.jp/tutuji/t.html Access The Chiyoda Subway Line to Nezu Sta. (C 14) 所在地 文京区 根津神社 文京つつじまつり 最寄駅 千代田線根津駅 Ｄａｔｅ Apr. 20 ～ May 6 Fuji Matsuri, Wisteria Festival of Kameido Tenjin (or Tenmangu) Shrine, Koto-ku. There are over 100 wisteria roots in the Shrine's precincts, and they are usually in full bloom in this season. Various entertainments are scheduled during the period. http://www.kameidotenjin.or.jp/fujimatsuri/index.html Access The JR Sobu Line to Kameido Sta., and then walk 15 min. 所在地 江東区 亀戸天神社(天満宮） 藤まつり 最寄駅 JR総武線亀戸駅より徒歩15分 Ｄａｔｅ Apr. 29 ～ May 3 ◇ Annual Spring Festival of Meiji Shrine, Shibuya-ku. Major events held in the precincts are as follows: Bugaku (ancient court dance with music) from 11 am on Apr. 29th; Noh (classical masked drama) and Kyogen (Noh farce) from 11:45 am, and Japanese traditional music and dance from 3:45 pm on May 2nd; and Kyudo Taikai (Japanese archery meet) held at Daini-Kyudo-jo from 9 am to around 4 pm on the 3rd. Access (1) The JR Yamanote Line to Harajuku Sta. (2) The Chiyoda or Fukutoshin Subway Line to Meiji-Jingumae Sta. (C 03, F15) (3) Daini-Kyudo-jo: The Odakyu Line to Sangubashi Sta. 所在地 渋谷区 明治神宮 明治神宮春の大祭 最寄駅 (1) JR山手線原宿駅 (2) 地下鉄千代田線又は副都心線明治神宮前駅 (3) 第二弓道場：小田急線参宮橋駅 Ｄａｔｅ May 1 ～ May 5 Annual Festival of Teppozu Inari Shrine, Chuo-ku. On the 3rd, a procession of Mikoshi (portable shrines) parades through the neighborhood from 9 am to around 5 pm. On the 4th, Mikoshi parades from 12:15 pm to around 8 pm, meanwhile children in fancy attire join the procession from 1:30 pm to around 2 pm. On the 5th, traditional Kabuki plays are performed by children from 1:30 pm. Many other events are scheduled during the festival period. Access The Hibiya Subway Line or the JR Keiyo Line to Hatchobori Sta. 所在地 中央区 湊 鉄砲洲稲荷神社 鉄砲洲稲荷神社例大祭 最寄駅 日比谷線又はJR京葉線八丁堀駅 1 Ｄａｔｅ May 3 ～ May 5 Heiwajima Antique Fair at Heiwajima Tokyo Ryutsu Center, Ota-ku, is held from 10 am to 5 pm (enter by 4 pm on the 5th) daily during the period. Access The Tokyo Monorail Line to Ryutsu Center Sta. 所在地 太田区 平和島 東京流通センター 全国古民具骨董祭り 最寄駅 東京モノレール 流通センター駅 Ｄａｔｅ May 3 ～ May 6 ◇◎ Kurayami Matsuri (Black Night Festival) of Okunitama Shrine in Fuchu on the outskirts of Tokyo. On the 3rd, Komakurabe (a demonstration of horseback riding) is held on Keyaki-namiki Street from 8 pm (lasting for about 20 minutes). On the 4th, twenty-four Dashi (floats) are drawn through the streets in the city from 6 pm to 9 pm. On the 5th, a parade of eight Mikoshi (portable shrines), some of which weighing as much as a ton each, leaves the Shrine at 6 pm for Otabisho (portable shrine resting place) to arrive there at around 9 pm. And then, Yabusame (horseback archery) is held from 10:30 pm. http://www.ookunitamajinja.or.jp/matsuri/kurayami.html Access (1) The Keio Line to Fuchu Sta., and then walk 5 min. (2) The JR Nambu or Musashino Line to Fuchu-Hommachi Sta., and then walk 5 min. 所在地 府中市 宮町 大国魂神社 くらやみ祭り（大国魂神社例大祭） 最寄駅 (1) 京王線府中駅より徒歩5分 (2) JR南武線又は武蔵野線府中本町駅より徒歩5分 Ｄａｔｅ May. 5 ◇ Takara-no-mai, Japanese dance of Sensoji Temple, Asakusa, Taito-ku, in celebration of Children's Day. Takara-bune (a ship-shaped float laden with treasure) is drawn by children from Denboin Temple, going through the Kaminarimon gate to Sensoji Temple, twice from 11 am to 11:30 am and from 1:30 pm to 2 pm. Access The Ginza or Toei Asakusa Subway Line to Asakusa Sta. 所在地 台東区 浅草寺 宝の舞 最寄駅 銀座線又は都営浅草線 浅草駅 Ｄａｔｅ May 9 ～ May 15 Kanda Myojin Omikoshi Togyo or Kanda Matsuri Festival at Kanda Myojin Shrine, Chiyoda-ku. The festival is one of the three grandest festivals in Tokyo. The highlight of the festival is Shinko-sai (a procession) on the 11th. The colorful procession of people in feudal costumes holding paper lanterns and drawing Horen (palanquins) starts from the Shrine at 8 am, passing through the Kanda, Nihombashi, Marunouchi, and Akihabara areas, and returns to the Shrine at around 7 pm. On the 12th, Mikoshi (portable shrines) owned by the town are carried through the town from 9 am to 6 pm. On the 14th, Takigi Noh (open-air torchlight Noh play) is performed from 6 pm. Admission tickets (\6,500, \4,500, \3,500) are sold at the Shrine and Lawson convenience stores. Access (1) The JR Chuo Line or the Marunouchi Subway Line to Ochanomizu Sta., and then walk 5 min. (2) The JR Yamanote Line, Keihin Tohoku Line or Sobu Line to Akihabara Sta., and then walk 5 min. (3) The Chiyoda Subway Line to Shin-Ochanomizu Sta., and then walk 5 min. 所在地 千代田区 神田明神 及び周辺 神田明神御神輿渡御 最寄駅 (1) JR中央線又は丸ノ内線御茶ノ水駅より徒歩5分 (2) JR山手線、京浜東北線又は総武線秋葉原駅より徒歩5分 (3) 千代田線新御茶ノ水駅より徒歩5分 Ｄａｔｅ May 12 ～ May 26 ◎ Grand Sumo Tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan Hall, Sumida-ku. Dohyo-iri (the ring-entering ceremony) by Yokozuna (the grand champions) takes place around 4 pm daily. Then the main bouts by Maku-uchi (upper-rank Sumo wrestlers) starts. Advance tickets are sold at convenience stores, Ticket Pia, and so on or also at Ryogoku Kokugikan Hall. Unreserved-seat tickets (\2,100 per person) are sold on the day at the Kokugikan Hall from 8 am every day during the tournament period, on a first-come, first-served basis. The number of the tickets is limited to 350 daily. Access The JR Sobu Line or the Toei Oedo Subway Line to Ryogoku Sta. 所在地 墨田区 両国国技館 大相撲5月場所 最寄駅 JR総武線又は都営地下鉄大江戸線両国駅 2 Ｄａｔｅ May 17 ～ May 19 ◎ Sanja Matsuri Festival of Asakusa Shrine, Taito-ku. The festival is counted as one of the Tokyo's grandest. On the 17th, Daigyoretsu (a parade of 1,000 people in traditional attires) goes to the tune of the festival music through the town, and then proceeds on Nakamise-dori Street to the Shrine, from 1 pm to 2 pm. Binzasara-mai (Shinto dance) is performed in Shaden Hall from 2:20 pm, and on the Kaguraden stage from 3 pm. On the 18th, over 100 town's Mikoshi (portable shrines) parade through the town from around 12 noon. On the 19th, three Mikoshi owned by Asakusa Shrine parade in the Shrine's neighborhood from 8 am to the evening. http://www.city.taito.lg.jp/index/event/kanko/sanzyamatsuri.html Access The Ginza or Toei Asakusa Subway Line to Asakusa Sta. 所在地 台東区 浅草神社 三社祭 最寄駅 銀座線又は都営浅草線浅草駅 Ｄａｔｅ May. 25 Shobo Junshokusha Irei-sai is a memorial service for fire fighters who died on duty, conducted by members of the Edo Shobo Kinen-kai at Sensoji Temple (Asakusa Kannon Temple), Taito-ku. This includes a demonstration of acrobatics on the ladder on the temple ground from 12 noon to 12:30 pm. When it rains, the demonstration of acrobatics will be canceled. Access The Ginza or Toei Asakusa Subway Line to Asakusa Sta. 所在地 台東区 浅草寺本堂裏 消防殉職者慰霊祭 最寄駅 銀座線又は都営浅草線浅草駅 Ｄａｔｅ May 25 & May 26 Yushima Tenjin Matsuri or Annual Festival of Yushima Tenjin Shrine, Bunkyo-ku. Mikoshi (portable shrines) parade in the neighborhood of the Shrine in the daytime on both days. The festival is rather small in scale this year. Access The Chiyoda Subway Line to Yushima Sta. 所在地 文京区 湯島3 湯島天神 湯島天神祭 最寄駅 千代田線湯島駅 Ｄａｔｅ May 25 ～ May 27 Annual Festival of Hanazono Shrine, Shinjuku-ku. A procession of eight Mikoshi (portable shrines) owned by towns parades through the neighborhood from 11:30 am on the 26th. The festival is rather small in scale this year. Access The Marunouchi, Fukutoshin, or Toei Shinjuku Subway Line to Shinjuku-Sanchome Sta. 所在地 新宿区 新宿5 花園神社 花園神社例大祭 最寄駅 丸の内線, 副都心線又は都営新宿線新宿三丁目駅 KANTO 関東 Ｄａｔｅ Apr. 27 ～ May 6 ◎ Mashiko-yaki Toki Ichi, Pottery Fair at Mashiko-machi, Tochigi Pref., is held from 9 am to around 5 pm at the several venues in Mashiko, such as Kyohan Center, Tsukamoto Seitosho and Togei Mura. Access (1) The JR Tohoku Shinkansen or JR Tohoku Honsen Line to Oyama Sta., and then change to the JR Mito Line to Shimodate Sta. From there, the Moka Railway to Mashiko Sta., and then walk 25 min.