Sanja Festival: A Photographer’s Guide
The Sanja Festival is one of Tokyo’s most vibrant and photographed events. This massive three-day event happens on the third weekend of May. It offers photographers a mix of culture, history, and artistic moments. Here’s my guide to help you make the most of this photographic opportunity.
Understanding the Sanja Festival
The Sanja Festival honors the men who founded Senso-ji Temple. It’s renowned for its processions, floats, and mikoshi (portable shrines). The festival celebrates tradition, community, and the spirits enshrined at Asakusa Shrine. It provides endless visual inspiration.
Sanja Festival Highlights and Key Events
Daigyoretsu Parade (Friday)
What to Expect: This parade features priests, geisha, musicians, and dancers.
Photographic Tips: Arrive early to secure a good spot along the route. Look at my guide for this event.
Mikoshi Processions (Saturday and Sunday)
What to Expect: This is the heart of the festival. 100 mikoshi are carried through the streets. The energy and enthusiasm of the carriers are infectious and visually striking. Oh yeah, there will be crowds like you’ve never seen in your life.
Photographic Tip: Wide-angle lenses can capture the crowd’s intensity. Be careful as you don’t want to obstruct the mikoshi and cause safety issues. Don’t get too close.
Food stalls
What to Expect: Sensoji’s grounds are flooded with food stalls. They bring an amount of Shitamachi spirit to the event.
Photographic Tips: These can make good for portrait and food photography. Be careful as some of the stalls don’t like cameras. Look for the no photography sign.
Best Spots for Photography
Asakusa Tourist Information Center
Use its eighth floor. It gives a good view of Kaminarimon, Nakamise, Hozomon, the Pagoda, and Sensoji Temple.
Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate)
Sensoji’s main entrance. Its Sunday action can be intense.
Nakamise Shopping Street
Perfect for street photography and capturing the bustling festival atmosphere.
Hozomon (Hozo Gate)
This gate is between Sensoji and Nakamise. Photograph the mikoshi and crew as they pass through it and under the lanterns.
Asakusa Shrine and Senso-ji Temple Grounds
Ideal for capturing the central events and the architecture! You can also shoot from the stairs and verandah of the temple, but security might move you on at times.
Tips for Photographers
Respect the Culture
Always be mindful of the participants and the spectators. Avoid obstructing the procession and ask for permission when photographing individuals up close.
Blend In
Dress modestly and try to blend into the crowd. This helps in capturing more candid and natural shots.
Prepare for Crowds
The festival attracts thousands of visitors. Be prepared to navigate dense crowds and keep your gear secure.
Lighting Challenges
The festival events span from bright daylight to evening, posing varying lighting conditions. Bring along a versatile lens and consider a mini-reflector for fill light. Don’t bring tripods as it will be too crowded.
Tell a Story
Aim to create a narrative with your photos. Capture wide shots to establish the scene. Mid-range shots are for context and close-ups for details.
Respect the security guards
The mikoshi are huge and weigh nearly a ton. If they fall, someone will get injured. Please listen to the police and security guards if they ask you to move. And be mindful that some don’t speak fluent English.
Post-Processing Tips
Enhance Colors
The festival is a riot of colors. Adjust the saturation and vibrance to make your images pop without overdoing it.
Highlight Details
Use selective sharpening to emphasize the intricate details of costumes and mikoshi.
Maintain Authenticity
While editing, strive to preserve the authenticity of the scenes. Avoid heavy filters that could detract from the cultural essence of the festival. Yes, I’ve been guilty of this in the past.
When is the Sanja Festival?
It happens on the third weekend in May. The Daigyoretsu kicks it off on Friday and ends two days later on Sunday.
Conclusion
The Sanja Festival is a treasure trove for photographers. It offers a dynamic blend of history, culture, and Japanese traditions. Prepare adequately and you’ll have a good chance of getting stunning images.
It doesn’t matter if you are a seasoned professional or an enthusiastic amateur. The Sanja Festival will enrich your photographic portfolio. You’ll leave it with great Tokyo travel memories. Happy shooting, and may your lenses capture its spirit in its glory!
For more festival articles, look at:
External related websites:
- Asakusa Shrine (official website)