Page 73 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Tokyo

Festivals and Events ❮❮ 71

Kanda Matsuri
8 TOP 10 FLOWER AND
MAP F3 • Kanda Myojin
Shrine, 2-16-2 Soto-Kanda, Chiyoda- PLANT EVENTS
ku • 3254-0753 • Mid-May
One of Tokyo’s three major festivals,
the Kanda Matsuri is held in odd-
numbered years. It features music,
and dance, but the highlight is the
Heian-period costume parade, a
procession of floats and mikoshi
(portable shrines).
Visitors viewing the irises
1 Plum Blossom Viewing
MAP F2 • Late Jan–early Mar
The blossoms at Yushima Tenjin Shrine
attract Tokyoites.
2 Cherry Blossom Viewing
Early–mid-Apr
Crowds picnic under the pink blossoms
in parks and gardens.
3 Peony Displays
MAP F2 • Mid-Apr
Pink, red, and yellow peonies can be
Kanda Matsuri parade viewed at Ueno Park’s Tosho-gu shrine.
Sumida River Fireworks
9 4 Azalea Festival
MAP E1, L2 & M2 • Apr 10–May 15
Last Sat in July
• Adm
Around 1 million Tokyoites converge Azaleas bloom at Nezu Shrine and the
on the riverbanks near Asakusa to Imperial Palace East Gardens.
see over 20,000 fireworks light up 5 Iris Viewing
the skies and the Sumida River. MAP B5 & D1 • Early–mid-Jun
The best views are from Komagata Visit the stunning iris gardens at Meiji
Bridge or between Shirahige and Shrine and Horikiri.
Kototoi bridges (see pp16–17). 6 Lotus Blossoms
MAP F2 • Mid-Jul–Aug
Seven-Five-Three
0 An array of pink lotuses bloom in
Festival
Shinobazu Pond in Ueno Park.
Nov 15 7 Chinese Lantern Plant Fair
Children who have reached the ages MAP R1 • 3842-0181 • Jul 9–10
of three, five, or seven are dressed Popular fair held in Senso-ji temple.
up in pint-sized traditional kimonos 8 Morning Glory Fair
and taken to shrines to MAP C1 • Jul 6–8
pray for their well-being Vendors sell potted morning glories
at this delightful event. in the grounds of Kishimojin Temple.
The num bers signify 9 Chrysanthemum Festival
ages once considered MAP B4 & C4 • Late Oct–mid-Nov
milestones when Shinjuku Gyoen garden has an
child mortality was exhibition of chrysanthemums.
high. The occa sion 10 Fall Leaves
is also a great Late Nov
photo opportunity. Red maples, russet fall leaves, and
yellow ginkgoes bloom in the
parks and old Edo-period gardens.
Children dressed for
Seven-Five-Three Festival

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