White Heron Dance (November)

The Shirasagi no Mai, or White Heron Dance, is a graceful traditional performance held at Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa. Taking place twice annually on the second Sunday of April and on Culture Day in November, this elegant procession was revived in 1968 to commemorate the centennial anniversary of Tokyo becoming the capital. The captivating performance is inspired by a historic Kyoto ritual and vividly depicted in a seventeenth-century picture scroll.

During the event, a striking parade makes its way through the Nakamise shopping street toward the main hall. The procession features participants dressed in elaborate, winged white heron costumes, accompanied by musicians and guardian warriors. Upon reaching the temple grounds, the “herons” perform a slow, synchronized dance, gracefully spreading their majestic wings to the melodic sounds of traditional flutes and drums. This breathtaking spectacle beautifully celebrates Japanese cultural heritage, bringing ancient Heian-period artistry vividly to life right here in Tokyo.

In both April and November, there are typically two dances: the first at 11am and the second at 2pm.