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

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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.

Furusato Matsuri Tokyo is a huge event with Japanese festivals and food from Hokkaido to Okinawa gathered in Tokyo Dome. The plaza area and stage show a major festival every day such as the Aomori Nebuta Matsuri, Kochi Yosakoi Matsuri, Tokushima Awa Odori dance, and Okinawan Eisa dance. The food booths sell seafood, mountain vegetables, confections, and souvenirs. Mascot characters from across Japan also please the crowd.

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.

The Tokyo International Quilt Festival at Tokyo Dome provides everything you want to know about quilts. They have a different exhibition theme each year, and the latest works by popular quilt artists and antique quilts are exhibited. Winners of the Japan Quilt Grand Prix are also announced. Other highlights include talk shows on stage, quilt lessons, quilt workshops, and booths selling quilting supplies. A must-see event for quilt lovers.

The International Orchid Festival brings diverse orchids from all over the world under one roof. About 100,000 plants of 3,000 varieties of Western, Oriental, and Japanese orchids are displayed. The Japan Grand Prix has six judging categories such as Individual, Fragrance, and Arts for selecting winners. Besides the orchid displays, there are booths selling orchids, flower artist demonstrations, orchid craft-making workshops, and stage entertainment.

The Tableware Festival offers all kinds of information about tableware. Japanese and foreign tableware brands arrange their tableware exhibits to suit the year's exhibition theme. You can also see dining space arrangements by celebrities and cultural figures. The latest foreign-brand tableware and Japanese pottery are for sale. Seminars on table setting and flower coordination are also held.