Note: Kanda Festival is not to be mistaken for Kanda Matsuri, one of Tokyo's three biggest festivals, which is held in May on odd-numbered years.
Kanda Festival brings four days of festivities to Kanda Shrine filled with food stalls and traditional Japanese performances. Stroll along the weekend-only (Feb 20-21) Edo Tokyo Yoichiba, where you’ll find your favourite matsuri food and game stalls. On all four days, there will also be a food truck serving exclusive lunch boxes and desserts in collaboration with virtual YouTuber Aoi Fuji. If you’re lucky, you can even catch Fuji herself on Tuesday (Feb 23) afternoon when she hosts two separate hour-long talk sessions.
On Saturday (Feb 20) evening, you can enjoy a one-night-only bon odori and awa odori dance performance that includes a meal of izakaya-style food – the ticketed show (¥2,500) will be held inside Edocco Studio, across the street from the shrine. If you’re looking for free entertainment, stay at the shrine to watch buyo, a traditional Japanese dance performed by Kocho Muneyamaryu and Manjushaka, which will run multiple sessions from 5pm to 8pm on the weekend.
Come Monday (Feb 22) and you’ll have a chance to see a mixture of traditional performing arts including modern kyokugei (Japanese acrobatics), daikagura (juggling), rakugo (Japanese storytelling) and gagaku (ancient Japanese court music) starting from 10.30am.
Seating for all events is limited, so be sure to make a reservation in advance on the official website.