Sanja Matsuri Mikoshi Bearers - the biggest of Tokyo's traditional 3 grand festivals is held at Asakusa Shrine;  the Sanja festival is a three-day weekend of boisterous traditional mikoshi processions through the streets of Asakusa with plenty of drinking, dancing, music and other revelry. Held by the Sensoji Temple in Tokyo, the huge parade draws over two million people into the streets.  The gold and black lacquer mikoshi are the vehicles of the shrine's kami or deities and the purpose of the processions is to bring luck and prosperity to the areas inhabitants. Many of the mikoshi are so large, heavy and elaborate that dozens of people are required to carry them.
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