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Asakusa Shrine is almost synonymous with the Sanja Matsuri festival. |
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On March 18th in the 36th year of Empress Suiko’s reign （628AD）, the Hinokuma brothers?Hamanari-no-mikoto and Takenari-no-mikoto?found a statue caught in their fishing net. Having no clue of what it was, the brothers told this story to Hajino Matsuchi-no-mikoto, the chief of their village. They found that it was a divine statue of Seikannon Bosatsu. The brothers prayed for a good catch and their boat was filled with fish. Hajino Matsuchi-no-mikoto became a priest and turned his house into a temple dedicated to the kannon statue. After Hajino Matsuchi-no-mikoto died, his son dreamed of Kannon-sama, who told him to honor his father and the two brothers. He built a shrine dedicated to the three men, calling them Sanja Gongen （three reincarnated gods）. This is said to be the origin of Asakusa Shrine and the name of the Sanja festival. |
Information also available in “Sightseeing Sports, Museums, etc.”
When is the Sanja Matsuri held？
Jidaiya features the Sanja Matsuri every year.
Click here to see a feature page on the festival.
What is Binzasara？
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Designated as an intangible folk cultural property by the Tokyo metropolitan government, it is a musical instrument made of 108 cypress plates measuring 15cm long and 0.6cm thick that are strung together. It is held on both ends and shaken with a wave motion to make a clapping sound. |
Asakusa Shrine official website
Learn more about its history, buildings and other tidbits, as well as wedding ceremonies held there and the Sanja Matsuri！
| ◆History | ◆Sensoji Temple |
◆Chronological Table （Japanese Only） |
◆Who's Who （Japanese Only） |
