The annual Kitazawa Hachiman Shrine Festival falls on the first weekend of September. This year, the festival will return to its full glory with the biggest mikoshi (portable shrines) being paraded for the first time in six years.
While the festival is spread out over two days, the main event occurs on Sunday September 8, when around a dozen or so mikoshi are carried through the neighbourhood.
The golden honsha mikoshi will leave the shrine at around 7.45am and make its way through each neighbourhood around Shimokitazawa Station before returning to the shrine for the grand finale of the group procession at 1pm.
Starting from 5pm, there will also be an array of live performances including hula dancing, belly dancing and gagaku (traditional Japanese classical music).
For the event schedule, check the festival website.