Kichijoji Autumn Festival

The Kichijoji Autumn Festival is a vibrant, two-day celebration that transforms one of Tokyo’s most popular neighborhoods into a lively hub of traditional culture. The festivities officially begin on Saturday at 11:00 AM, when a Shinto priest on horseback leads a grand procession out of the historic Musashino Hachimangu Shrine, located just north of Kichijoji Station. Throughout the weekend, teams of energetic locals carry beautifully crafted mikoshi (portable shrines) through the bustling commercial district, navigating the narrow alleys and famous covered arcades like Sunroad.

The undeniable highlight of the event occurs at 3:00 PM on both days, when multiple mikoshi teams converge on Heiwa Dori, right in front of the station’s north exit. The air fills with the rhythmic sounds of traditional matsuri-bayashi music and spirited chanting as the teams display their strength to the massive crowds. The festival concludes on Sunday evening in a beautifully lantern-lit ceremony as the deities are safely returned to the shrine.