Heavily tattooed men, possibly members of Japan's organised crime groups the Yakuza , show off their tattoos during the Sanja matsuri, Asakusa, Tokyo, Japan. Sunday May 21st 2017. The Sanja matsuri (Three shrines festival) is one of the biggest Shinto festivals in Japan. It takes place for 3 days around the third weekend of May and features over 100 large and small mikoshi, or portable shrines, which are paraded around the streets of the historic Asakusa district in Tokyo. to bring blessings and good luck on the inhabitants. The events attracts up to 2 million visitors each year.