Honzon Jigen-e

The Asakusa Honzon Jigen-e is an annual ceremony held on March 18 to commemorate the legendary founding of Sensoji. According to temple records, a golden statue of Kannon, the Goddess of Mercy, was discovered in the Sumida River on March 18, 628, by two brothers fishing nearby. The local village head recognized the statue’s significance and converted his own residence into a temple to enshrine it, marking the origin of the current temple complex. The Honzon Jigen-e serves as a religious celebration of this “divine manifestation.”

The event includes a symbolic reunion between the Goddess of Mercy and the temple’s three founders. On the evening of March 17, the spirits of the founders are moved from Asakusa Shrine into three mikoshi (portable shrines). These are carried to the main hall of Sensoji in a ritual known as do-age, typically starting around 6:00 PM. On March 18, the mikoshi are carried back to the shrine in a formal morning procession through the Asakusa district. A major highlight of the day is the Kinryu-no-Mai (Golden Dragon Dance), a performance involving an 18-meter golden dragon that celebrates the temple’s history and the reconstruction of the main hall.

Spectators should arrive early at the temple courtyard to secure a viewing spot for the Golden Dragon Dance, as the performances draw large crowds and do not utilize tiered seating. For those interested in the ritual aspects, the do-age ceremony on the night of the 17th offers a more solemn and traditional atmosphere compared to the lively morning parade. If the 18th falls on a weekend, the morning mikoshi procession is often extended, providing more opportunities to view the shrines as they move through the local shopping streets.