Sanno Matsuri is  one of the three major festivals of Tokyo, but don’t expect the millions of spectators that festivals like Sanja Matsuri have. What Sanno Matsuri lacks in attendance it makes up for in stature; it is one of the few festivals that is attended by the Emperor…sort of. In truth, the festival comes to him in the form of a 500+ person parade on the first day of the festival that travels for miles around Tokyo streets and stops at the Imperial Palace so the chief priest can pray for the royal family. The festival and parade alternate annually with the Kanda Matsuri with Sanno getting even numbered years.