Ani-Otakki

This is the Kanda festival, a festival centered around Kanda Myojin(神田明神), a shrine in the Chiyoda ward of Tokyo(千代田区). 

This happens to be one of the three biggest festivals in Japan alongside the Gion festival(祇園祭) in Kyoto and the Tenjin festival(天神祭) in Osaka.

Honden(本殿)

One of the most famous festivals of Tokyo, Kanda Matsuri is also ranked among the three largest festivals of Japan. Protected by the Shougun(将軍: military dictator) during the Edo Period(江戸時代) (1603-1867) and permitted to enter the grounds of Edo Castle where he lived, it also came to be called ‘Tenka Matsuri'(‘天下祭’ ).

Omikoshi(お神輿)

The Kanda Festival consists of numerous events held over an entire week, but the main action usually happens over the weekend closest to May 15. The highlights are a day-long procession through central Tokyo on Saturday, and parades of portable shrines (mikoshi) by the various neighborhoods on Sunday.

It is said that before going into battle with other warlords, Tokugawa Ieyasu(徳川 家康) would without fail make his servants go to the Kanda Shrine and pray for victory in the upcoming battle. By doing this, Tokugawa Ieyasu was able to wonderfully unify Japan. In gratitude to the shrine, he donated a gorgeous-looking shaden (the main building of the shrine) and an omikoshi (a portable shrine) to Kanda Shrine. Thanks to the support of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the festival held at this shrine reached impressive proportions.

The Kanda Matsuri is the festival of the Kanda Myojin Shrine(神田明神) which enshrines three deities: Daikokuten - the god of good harvest and matrimony, Ebisu - the god of fishermen and businessmen, and Taira Masakado - a feudal lord of the 10th century who was revered and deified. Over the years, the Kanda Festival came to be a celebration for the wealth and good fortune of the people.

The highlight of this festival is getting to see the shinkosai, which is a line of roughly 500 people who all wear clothing from the Heian Period(平安時代) (794-1185). 

The shinkosai parade starts off at the Kanda Shrine, goes through Akihabara(秋葉原), an area which is well-known for its many electronic stores, goes through the office districts of Marunouchi and Otemachi, then makes its way back to Kanda Shrine. The sight of a line of people wearing clothing from the Heian period walking through the modern streets is very striking. 

The next day after the shinkosai is when the Omikoshi(お神輿) comes out from the town neighboring Kanda Shrine.

Don't forget to Check-out the kanda festival if you plan on visiting japan in the May.