Walking tour: KACHIYA🏹SAMURAI PARADE visit to TWO⛩️HISTORIC SHRINES & SKYTREE!

Join us during Golden Week on KODOMO NO HI, or Children's Day, for a wonderful afternoon of both festival-going, and flower appreciation as we visit Kameido Katori Shrine's Annual "Kachiya Victory Arrow" Parade, and Kameido Tenjin Shrine's wonderful Wisteria Festival!
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This annual event commemorates Fujiwara no Hidesato's victory over Heian-era rebel, Taira No Masakado, whose ferocious, Chiba-based rebellion against Kyoto's imperial rule contributed to many supernatural legends about him!
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"Kameido" itself is a famously ancient place, where many centuries ago, an "ido", (fresh- water well) was discovered on a turtle (kame) shaped island surrounded by swamps. Over time, the flowing Kame-ido became an important refuge for travelers, and the town of KAMEIDO was born!
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Today, the "Kame-ido" well is enshrined at Katori-jinja, and we'll visit that legendary place!
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Kameido Katori-jinja has its origins in the year 665, during the reign of Emperor Tenji, when a samurai, Fujiwara no Kamatari, delivered his fighting sword in a ceremony to transfer the tutelary deity from ancient Katori-Jingu, the main Katori Shrine in Chiba!
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During the Tengyo era (938-947), when Taira no Masakado revolted, Heian court emissary Fujiwara no Hidesato prayed here for victory before suppressing Taira.
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Dedicating his bow and arrow in gratitude, Hidesato’s victory formed the origin of the Kachiya (“bow-and-arrow”) Festival, which has been held continuously for 1,000 years.
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Honored by famous shogun such as Minamoto no Yoritomo and Tokugawa Ieyasu, the ancestral spirits of Katori Taisha have been worshipped by people training in martial arts. Now honored as the “god of sports promotion”, the shrine gathers many athletes and related people who come to pray for victory.
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After the Samurai Parade, we'll take a walk to nearby Kameido Tenjin Shrine, famed for it's elegant shrine buildings, beautiful arched vermillion bridges, ponds filled with koi (carp) and kame (turtles) where lovely plum trees bloom in February, and fragrant Wisteria and bright Azaleas bloom in May and June, it's considered the best place in Tokyo to view the fragrant purple, white & even rare, yellow wisteria, as immortalized by Hiroshige in his famous "100 views of Mount Fuji"!
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Dedicated to Tenjin-no-Kami, the patron deity of students and scholars, Kameido Shrine is one of the great historic scenic places of Edo, immortalized in poems and many great artworks!
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This is also a popular place to ask Tenjin-no-kami's blessing for the best grades, or for students to be accepted by their preferred schools!
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We'll Meet at Sumiyoshi Station, and walk from there, passing through lovely Sarue Park, as well as visiting Kamede-Jinja, where the Victory parade will start. We'll also stop by the Edo Kiriko Showroom, a kind of museum of beautiful traditional cut-glass ware, where interesting souvenirs of the area can also be found.
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After the shrine visit, we can take an easy walk towards Tokyo Skytree to visit Tokyo's iconic "Tobacco and Salt Museum" for an exhibition of gorgeous Edo-period Men's accessories such as "Sagemono" (Things which hang from the kimono obi, or sash), such as Netsuke, Inro, Tobako-ire, Tonkatsu, & Kiseru, all elegant, but essential items for an Edo-era man's smoking enjoyment!
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We'll also stop by the amazing "Morihachi-Honpo" wagashi (Japanese sweets) shop, which is housed in a building which was copied from one of the turrets of old Edo-Castle! This traditional sweetshop specializes in Kuri monaka, a type of molded biscuit filled with chestnut cream, and other delicious flavors!
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NOTE: The festival is FREE, but we work hard to plan interesting events & guide you to interesting places, so please give generously! (Suggested: Students, Seniors or Disabled: ￥500-2000, others, pay: ￥2000-5000, please!
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KIDS ARE WELCOME & free to join with a parent!
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This is a non-smoking meetup. If you must, please do so only in proper smoking areas.
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PLEASE BRING: Comfortable shoes, a hat, a drink, snacks & a SMILE!
Have an early lunch, bring food, or buy festival treats from the vendors along the way or at the shrine!
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Engage in language and culture exchange, experience the essence of Japanese festivals & create lasting memories at this dynamic event while mingling with friendly people in a welcoming atmosphere!
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Thanks!
Your Meetup organizer ~ Kerry D. 🌞

PLEASE NOTE: We'd enjoy having your friends come along, so PLEASE ask them to JOIN our Meetup group!