What this is
Kanda Myojin — one of Tokyo's most storied Shinto shrines, steps from Akihabara — hosts its annual Noryo summer festival with a twist: a full anime-song Bon dance collaboration tied to the idol anime 'Ui Shigure'. On August 7, visitors can join a traditional Bon odori on the shrine grounds set to anime music, with the Ui Shigure segment kicking off around 6:50 PM. From August 7–9, a dedicated merchandise pop-up runs in the basement of the EDOCCO STUDIO cultural center, requiring a numbered web entry ticket to access. Online orders also open July 10 for those who can't make it in person, with delivery expected around October.
Who should go
Fans of Ui Shigure or anime idol culture who want a genuinely unusual setting — a real Edo-period shrine — for their merch hunt and Bon dance experience. Anime tourists and Akihabara regulars will find this easy to fold into a day out.
Good to know
Merchandise entry requires a numbered web ticket — advance lottery applications run July 10–14 via the official website, and same-day tickets are distributed from 10:00 AM only to people physically present at Kanda Myojin, so plan to be on-site early. The EDOCCO STUDIO pop-up is in the basement (B1F) of the Kanda Myojin Cultural Exchange Center, a modern facility attached to the historic shrine. Kanda Myojin is a compact urban shrine with no large bag storage, so travel light if you plan to shop. The Bon dance area is outdoors on the shrine grounds — free to watch and join — and August evenings in Tokyo are hot and humid, so hydration is essential. Online orders open July 10 for those unable to attend in person, with delivery around October 2026.
This event was sourced and translated from Japanese by What's On Japan. Details may change — verify with the official source before attending.