Kaminarimon: Photographing the Sanja Festival 2026 The Sanja Festival 2026 at Kaminarimon featured a significant shift in crowds as the main Honsha Mikoshi toured local neighborhoods which could be followed by using GPS tracking. Photographers enjoyed neighborhood shrines at Thunder Gate, and opportunities for street portraits amidst preparations in the lead up to the 2028…
Sanja Festival 2025: Seeing through crowds with the Canon R5 As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. See my full disclosure here. The air in Asakusa crackled with energy. Shouts of “Wasshoi! Wasshoi!” echoed off the buildings. Teams of festival-goers, clad in traditional garb, heaved thousand-kilogram mikoshi (portable shrines) through the streets and…
Daigyoretsu Opens the Sanja Matsuri If you are planning your trip to a future event, read [Sanja Matsuri Daigyoretsu: A Photographer’s Guide]. To learn more about my first adventure at the 2018 Daigyoretsu, read on. The Sanja Matsuri (or Sanja Festival) is a cornerstone of Tokyo’s cultural calendar. It draws approximately two million visitors over…
Sanja Festival: A Photography Guide for 2027 The Sanja Festival (Sanja Matsuri) is one of Tokyo’s largest Shinto festivals, held annually in May at Asakusa Shrine. For photographers in 2027, the event offers high-action shots of mikoshi (portable shrines), traditional parades, and Edo-style street culture. The best photography spots include the Kaminarimon Gate and the…
Sanja Matsuri 2018: Photos from Sensoji This post focuses on my photographic experience at Sanja Matsuri 2018. If you are planning a future trip to the event, check out my [Sanja Festival: A Photographer’s Guide] for full information. For years, work obligations kept me away from experiencing the Sanja Matsuri on a Saturday. 2018 finally…
Sanja Matsuri Daigyoretsu: A Photographer’s Guide The Daigyoretsu is the opener for the famous Sanja Festival. It’s an event that brings three million visitors to Tokyo’s Asakusa district for three days of endless, incredible energy. I’ve been to this spectacular opening parade many times and believe me when I say it is a photographer’s dream….
A Photographer’s Guide to Sensoji Temple Step into a world where ancient history meets vibrant energy. Sensoji Temple in Asakusa isn’t just Tokyo’s oldest spiritual heart—it is the ultimate photography destination. From the colossal red lantern of the Kaminarimon Gate to the bustling energy of Nakamise-dori, this guide reveals the best photo spots. I’ll share…
Sanja Matsuri 2017 Photo Journal from Asakusa This post focuses on my photographic experience at Sanja Matsuri 2017. If you are planning a future trip to the event, check out my [Sanja Festival: A Photographer’s Guide] for full information. Asakusa is rarely quiet, but every May during the Sanja Festival (Sanja Matsuri), this historic district…