What to do and see in Bunkyo, Kanto: The Best Cultural Events

The Bunkyo Azalea Matsuri is held annually from early April to early May at Nezu Shrine. This is the only time people can enter the shrine's azalea garden. The large 6,600-square-meter garden is filled with about 3,000 colorful azaleas in red, pink, purple, white, etc. Since the 100 varieties of azalea bloom at different times, the garden looks different each time you visit. There are also unusual species of azalea such as the dark red azalea (karafune) and windmill-shaped flowers (hanaguruma).

Held from early to mid-June, the Bunkyo Hydrangea Matsuri is one of Bunkyo Ward's Big Five Flower Festivals. Over 3,000 hydrangea colorize Hakusan Shrine and neighboring Hakusan Park. People can also climb up the Fuji mound that is normally closed to the public. Also, since Hakusan Shrine is known for the god that stops toothaches, toothbrushes are memorialized during the festival.

Yushima Tenjin Shrine is famous for plum blossoms ever since the Edo Period. The shrine is beset with dainty colors when its 300 plum trees bloom from mid-February to March. The Yushima Tenjin Ume Blossom Matsuri is then held with a variety of events. They include a portable shrine parade, traditional fireman's procession, Edo kagura sacred dance and music, and traditional Japanese and foreign dances. An outdoor tea session is also held for people to admire the flowers while enjoying matcha tea.

Yushima Tenmangu Shrine, dedicated to the god of scholarly learning, exhibits about 2,000 chrysanthemums during the Bunkyo Chrysanthemum Matsuri. They include elaborate displays such as cascading chrysanthemums and dome-shaped chrysanthemums. The large chrysanthemum dolls are also unusual to see in Tokyo. The dolls depict characters in popular TV dramas.

The Nezu Sendagi Shitamachi Matsuri was started by the local people to promote the goodness of the Nezu and Sendagi Shitamachi neighborhoods. With Nezu Shrine as the main venue, the adjacent streets and park are used as secondary venues for festival entertainment and vendors. Highlights include street performers, food stalls, dance and music performances, guided tours of Shitamachi points of interest and historic sites, and collecting rubber stamps on a sheet ("stamp rally"). Shuttle buses also run between each venue.

Harimazaka road lined with 120 cherry trees is the site of the Bunkyo Cherry Blossom Matsuri. While most of them are Somei-Yoshino trees, there are also double-flowered Grandiflora cherry trees with white flowers delighting visitors. During the weekend, the road is closed to traffic and opened to pedestrians. Fun activities for kids are held such as a petting zoo and tamaire ball and basket game. Music performances are also held. The festival is one of Bunkyo Ward's Big Five Flower Festivals along with festivals for azaleas, hydrangeas, chrysanthemums, and plum blossoms.