Sanja Matsuri

The Sanja Matsuri is one of the three great Shinto festivals in Tokyo getting around two million people over three days. I was there Sunday for the last day. Mikoshi or portable shrines are carried around the streets of Asakusa in Tokyo during the day. The kami or spirit enshrined in the local Shrine and given a tour of the neighbourhood during the festival. This is very much a group effort as some of these Mikoshi weigh a couple of tons! A couple of years ago I got the chance to help carry one for a short time and believe me they are heavy. However there a smaller and lighter versions for groups of hidden to carry.