Sanja Matsuri (2013)

Tokyo's biggest and best traditional festival celebrated its 700th birthday in 2012, though every year's a special year where the Sanja Matsuri is concerned. First held back in 1312, the event celebrates the three men who founded Asakusa's Sensoji Temple, and draws over a million visitors to the neighbourhood over the course of three days. Though there'll be processions and traditional dance performances throughout the weekend, the highlight of the festival comes on the Sunday, when three enormous mikoshi (portable shrines) are shuttled through the streets of Asakusa, with local residents taking turns – and often fighting each other for the chance – to carry them.

See: Photo gallery: Sanja Matsuri