Best Kagurazaka Tokyo Festival Japanese

Kagurazaka Tokyo JapanIn the center of the Yamanote line in Tokyo Kagurazaka find Slope, an area that was once just beyond the walls of the Imperial Palace grounds, and in which artists, politicians and Geisha, once mixed.

The name is a combination of Kagurazaka kagura (a shrine dance to music) and Saka (Hill) and evokes the places and the topography of this beautiful part of Tokyo. The layout of the area is very similar to what it was when the city was built in the 17th century, although most of the area has been burned, as the result of an air raid on Tokyo in 1920.

Kagurazaka the annual festival is held every July and comprises a Hozuki Ichi (Ground Cherry Pod Fair) and parades with Awa Odori folk dancers. This year festival will take place from July 22 until 25 and is a great opportunity to explore the area.

Festival events are scheduled for the evening so head out early and explore the cobbled streets and shops of this area, where Karyukai, or culture Geisha, was born. In 1910 there were just 600 Geishas who have made the area home and some Ryōtei (case Geisha) are still operating in the area. Shinjuku City Tourism Association offers an ideal guide for Kagurazaka with some photos and history of various points of interest. Also, be sure to ask a local supplier for a copy of the Walking Guide for Kagurazawa.