The Asakusa Samba Festival: When Tokyo Gets Its Sexy On

But Isn't Tokyo always sexy?

Good point. And in many ways the answer is yes. But the last Saturday in August sees the Asakusa Samba Festival turning up the heat on Tokyo's sexometer. It's Tokyo's answer to the Rio Carnival and it's well worth joining in the action if you happen to be here.

What's so special about the Asakusa Samba Festival...?

...And how on earth can it compete with Rio?

Well it's not about competition. It's actually about celebration. And in particular it's about celebrating the long standing ties that have existed between Brazil and Japan since 1908.

So what are those ties? Well, in June 1908, 165 Japanese families made their way to the port of Santos near Sao Paulo, Brazil. Their aim was to make enough money to return to Japan in a few years with a better standard of living.

As so often in life, however, their reason for going, the offer of work on the coffee plantations, was not as lucrative as hoped. Return to Japan became impossible, so they stayed and carved their own successful niche in this now booming country. In 2011, Brazil has perhaps the largest population of Japanese outside Japan. A total of 1.5 million Japanese live mainly in and around Sao Paulo and Parana.

The Asakusa Samba Festival is a chance for Tokyoites to celebrate, in part, the perseverance and success of those first 165 families that made the journey to Brazil. Not a bad reason to get your sexy on.

So how did the Asakusa Samba Festival get started?

It's actually a pretty new addition to the Japanese calendar of events. And it's thanks to a group of local businesses in the old Asakusa area of Tokyo. They figured that not only would it be a great way to celebrate the Brazilian connection, but it would also be a neat way to stimulate rejuvenation in their part of the city. Crafty huh?

The first carnival was held on August 29, 1981 and, due to its success, it's now become a regular and much looked forward to annual event.

How does it all work?

There are usually 30 - 40 dance teams taking part in the Asakusa Samba Festival, with the winning team of the Rio de Janeiro carnival from that year also invited to take part. The dance teams are divided into 3 leagues. The top league is made up of all the professional dancers and musicians who will be competing during the biggest event of the day: The Grand Parade.

The Grand Parade takes place around mid-afternoon, and is a spectacle of colour, movement, music and, of course, all things sexy.

The other 2 leagues are regular folks who want to join in the costume and drama of the day. It's a no holds barred type of event where those with a flair for the glamorous have a chance to shine. For the spectators it's a day of eye candy and beauty.

Who goes to see the Asakusa Samba Festival?

Anyone who's interested. You'll see people here of all nationalities and ages. And they all have a good time. There are some seating areas erected along the main route for those who get there early enough to claim a seat. Otherwise it's a case of finding a space with everyone else who's either sitting or standing by the roadside. There's definitely a communal atmosphere to the whole event. And if you fancy shaking your booty? Well then, it's time for you to put on the ostrich feather plumes, your sequinned bikini and get your Tokyo sexy on ; )

And where exactly is the Festival?

The exact location of the Asakusa Samba Festival is the area surrounding Sensoji Temple in the old part of Tokyo. With an average attendance of around 500,000 people, it's an all day event with food stalls and sideshows dotted all along the route.

How do you get there?

The easiest way to get to the Asakusa Samba Festival is on the subway. Take the Toei Asakusa line of the Ginza line and get off at Asakusa station. From there it's just a case of following the crowds. Everyone's going to the same place!

What's next if you're planning a trip to Tokyo?

Make sure you've got your accommodation sorted. Try and pick a place that's going to make it easy for you to get around while you're here. Think about proximity to train stations and essential train lines. For more help see our Tokyo hotel and accommodation section.

If you haven't done so already:   

(It's the best way to get the Tokyo updates you'll need)

---

Taming Tokyo: The Guidebook

Wouldn't you love to find a guidebook that is just for first-time visitors to Tokyo. Find those all important things that only a local would know like: what to expect at the airport, what Japanese is most useful for a traveler to know, what packing tips are specific for Tokyo, what should you do in an emergency, the basics of using the trains, and much more. Head over to Taming Tokyo today and judge for yourself.