As any visitor to Tokyo will soon discover, festivals play an enormous part in Japanese life. Known as matsuri, the majority of these celebrations have Shinto origins, and range from frenetic street dancing to enjoying a glass of sake under the new cherry blossoms.

As a rule, the more significant the festival, the more popular it is, which can make transport and accommodation scarce and more expensive. Those planning to visit Tokyo during New Year (28 December to 4 January) and Golden Week (29 April to 5 May) would be strongly advised to make arrangements well in advance. Tourists are also warned that during these times most shops, restaurants and attractions will close.

O-Shogatsu (New Year)
1-3 January
Families visit temples and shrines to offer prayers for the coming year, at temples and Shinto shrines across the city.

Setsubun
3 or 4 February
People travel to temples to take part in a bean throwing ceremony, to drive away imaginary demons, at popular Tokyo temples include Kanda Myojin Shrine, Hie Shrine and Sensoji Temple.

Hana Matsuri (The Birth of Buddha)
8 April
Also known as the flower festival, worshippers pour amacha (hydranger leaf tea) over temple statues of Buddha as an offering, in the Sensoji Temple and throughout the city.

Golden Week
Late April-early May
A major holiday incorporating several national holidays, during which many offices close and huge numbers of locals take a holiday (a crowded time to travel), throughout the city.

Cherry Blossom Viewing
April
Families gather under the newly arrived blossoms to drink sake and picnic, all parks in the city, but particularly Ueno Park and Chidorigafuchi Park.

Kanda Matsuri (Kanda Festival)
A weekend in mid May (odd-numbered years only)
A major 3-day festival honouring the Kanda Myojin Shrine's deities. Worshipers parade ornate golden mikoshi (portable shrines) and traditional floats through the streets.

Sanja Matsuri (Sanja Festival)
Third weekend in May
Tokyo's biggest and most famous festival features enormous parades of portable shrines carried by men and women in traditional costume, Asakusa.

Sanno Matsuri (Sanno Festival)
Mid-June (even-numbered years only)
Historic street festival featuring parades of unusual portable shrines and a procession of 500 people in traditional court dress, Hie Shrine.

Sumida Hanabi (Sumida Fireworks Festival)
Late July or early August
Tokyo's biggest and most spectacular fireworks display erupts over the Sumida River, Asakusa's Sumida Park.
Website: http://sumidagawa-hanabi.com/index_eg.html

Tokyo International Film Festival
October
Japan's annual film extravaganza is held at various venues throughout the metropolis.
Website: www.tiff-jp.net/en/

Tokyo Motor Show
Late October-early November
Passenger cars and motorcycles featured on odd-numbered years, commercial vehicles featured on even-numbered years, Makuhari Messe, Chiba.
Website: www.tokyo-motorshow.com/eng/

Shichi-go-san (Seven, Five, Three Festival)
15 November (or closest weekend)
Boys aged five and girls aged three and seven are dressed in their most elaborate kimonos and taken to Shinto shrines to pray for their future, Meiji Shrine, Asakusa Shrine, Hie Shrine and others across the city.

Tori-no-Ichi (Rake Fair)
Mid-November
Extraordinarily decorated bamboo rakes, believed to bring good fortune, are sold at a great shrine fair, Otori Shrine, Asakusa.

Hagoita-Ichi (Battledore Fair)
December
Lavishly decorated battledore paddles of all sizes are sold at a large and popular temple fair in the hope of an auspicious start to the New Year, Sensoji Temple, Asakusa.

Omisoka (New Year's Eve)
31 December
Buddhist temple bells ring out 108 times and people flock to temples and shrines to see in the New Year, Meiji Shrine and temples and shrines across the city.