Not Just Fireworks! Introducing 3 Popular Festivals Around Kitasenju

The most famous festival around Kitasenju is the “Adachi Fireworks Festival.” While it certainly ranks as one of the most popular festivals in the Kanto region, there are actually several other charming festivals held in the Kitasenju area.
This time, we introduce three recommended events in Kitasenju.
Please use this article as a reference when planning your trip!

1. Adachi Fireworks Festival

The “Adachi Fireworks Festival,” one of the most popular not only in Tokyo but also in the entire Kanto region, attracts around 600,000 visitors every year. This fireworks festival is said to have originated in the Meiji era, when fireworks were launched to celebrate the completion of Senju Ohashi Bridge. It is a traditional fireworks festival with a history of over 100 years.
One of the biggest features of this festival is that it is the very first large-scale fireworks event held in the Tokyo area each year. About 12,000 fireworks are launched in just one hour. Many people say that watching this event makes them feel, “Summer festival season has arrived again!”
Since the launch site along the Arakawa River is very close to the spectator area, one of its appeals is that you can experience the powerful fireworks at an impressively close distance. Many festival stalls and food vendors line the area as well, so you can enjoy food and drinks while watching the fireworks.
Why not visit the Adachi Fireworks Festival and feel the arrival of summer earlier than anyone else?

2. Senju Shrine Grand Festival

Held every year on the second Saturday and Sunday of September at Senju Shrine in Kitasenju, the “Senju Shrine Grand Festival” is another well-loved event. Within the grounds of Senju Shrine—known as the oldest shrine in Adachi Ward—you’ll find food stalls as well as festival favorites like target shooting, yo-yo fishing, and goldfish scooping.
The highlight of this festival is the “Senju Shrine Great Festival,” held once every five years. Mikoshi (portable shrines) and festival floats from various shrines gather and parade through the streets of Kitasenju. Among them, the large mikoshi believed to have been crafted in the late Edo period is truly spectacular! Watching dozens of people carrying the mikoshi in procession through streets such as those around Kitasenju Station showcases the charm of traditional Japanese festivals.
There is even a children’s mikoshi, so it’s a great event for families as well.
During the period of the “Senju Shrine Great Festival,” you can encounter mikoshi and festival floats lined up throughout the town. Be sure to stop by and enjoy the festive spirit!

3. Enma Opening

Popular events around Kitasenju include the “Adachi Fireworks Festival” and “Senju Shrine Grand Festival,” introduced earlier—but another well-known event is the “Enma Opening” held every January, as well as the “Enma Festival” held in July, both at Shosenji Temple.
Shosenji, affectionately known as “Akamon-dera” (Red Gate Temple) because of its red-painted gate, houses a seated statue of Enma-Daio, the King of Hell, measuring 1.8 meters tall. This statue is only revealed to the public during the January “Enma Opening” and the July “Enma Festival.”
During both events, long rows of stalls stretch from outside the temple grounds all the way inside, and the venue is crowded with locals enjoying the festive atmosphere. Due to the heavy crowds, it may take quite some time to reach the main hall.
Still, the sight of the Enma statue is absolutely worth it!

◎ Summary

In addition to the nationally famous “Adachi Fireworks Festival,” the Kitasenju area is home to many enjoyable and popular events, such as the “Senju Shrine Grand Festival,” the oldest traditional festival in the ward, and the “Enma Opening,” where you can view the statue of Enma Daio.
With old-fashioned shopping streets and modern fashion malls near the station, the town itself is full of charm!
Why not take a trip to lively and exciting Kitasenju?