Sanja Matsuri festival in Tokyo's Asakusa culminates in 'mikoshi' parade

The Sanja Matsuri festival that heralds the arrival of summer in Tokyo has reached its climax with a procession of portable shrines known as "mikoshi" through the historic Asakusa district. People carrying three large shrines set out from Asakusa Shrine on Sunday, the final day of the three-day event.

They were headed in different directions --- west, south and east. One of the shrines was paraded along the Nakamise shopping street and passed through the iconic Kaminari-mon gate, accompanied by the energetic chants of local parishioners.