Look what's Happening in Tokyo
Issue: May 2005

Public Holidays in May
Golden Week is a collection of public holidays. The term Golden Week was first used by movie companies to get people to take advantage of the "Golden Time" opportunity to go to the movies. Now it is used to mean the holiday itself.

Festivals, Sumo Stars and more festivals!
The 2004 May Grand Sumo Tournament 8th - 22nd May
Tickets can be bought in advance or you can choose to watch it in the comfort of your own apartment when it is shown daily on TV. The tournament is held 6 times throughout the year, 3 of these are in Tokyo and held at the Ryogoku Kokugikan from 10:00 - 18:00
To get there: Take the Sobu line to Ryogoku Station
The Kanda Myojin Matsuri at Kanda Shrine 14th - 15th May
This festival is ranked as one of Tokyo's traditional "Three Grand Festivals", along with the Sanja Festival. Held every other year it's highlight is the final day when 70 mikoshi are joyfully paraded through the streets, carried by teams of men and women dressed in traditional festival "happi coats" traditionally worn by shopkeepers.
To get there: Take the JR Line or Subway Marunouchi Line (M20) to Ochanomizu station. From there it is a 5 min. walk.
Sanja Festival Senso Shrine, Asakusa 20th - 22nd May
There Sanja Festival is one of the 3 great festivals of Tokyo. The main feature is the parading of over 100 mikoshi (portable shrines) which are carried by the residents around the local streets from dawn to dusk. It is said that the more the mikoshi are shaken by the teams the more blessings will be bestowed on the neighborhood.
To get there: Take the Ginza (G19) or Asakusa lines (A1) to Asakusa station. From there it is a 5 min. walk.
Fuji Matsuri - Wisteria Festival at Kameido Shrine 25th April - 5th May
To get there: A 10-minute walk from Kameido Station or Kinshicho Station on the JR Sobu Line.
Iris - the best place to view these beautiful flowers is the Meiji Shobuen and the Meiji Shrine.
To get there: Take the Yamanote line to Harajuku station or Chiyoda line to Meiji-jingu mae station (C03)

What's going on elsewhere in Japan

Aoi Festival ~ Kyoto at Kamigamo Shrine 15th May
The annual Aoi festival dates back to the early 8th century. It was originally held to pray for a good harvest following several years of bad ones because of frequent storms and floods. Unlike most festivals in Japan this festival is a fairly somber affair. Over 500 people in full Heian Period court dress and beautiful carriages are pulled by oxen parade quietly through the streets.
To get there: You can reach Kyoto by Shinkansen in a little under 3 hours.

by Sarah Yamada