Whatever you were planning to do
this Sunday,
March 17, 2013, from 1-4, forget about it.
The only thing worth doing at that time will be
the big Saint Patrick's Day parade in Omotesando, Tokyo.
What?
St. Patrick's Day is the annual celebration of Ireland and Irish/Celtic culture and it's one of the liveliest, most colorful street festivals you'll see anywhere in the world. The day is celebrated pretty much anywhere you have alot of Irish immigrants (or descendants). It's what happens when thousands of Irish leave their homeland, and get homesick. And here in Japan, we have several thousand of 'em (not counting their descendants, like me), and there have been Irish in Japan for over 300 years.
It starts at 2pm this Sunday on Omotesando street (one station from Shibuya), starting from Omotesando Hills. It should finish around 4. But you'll want to get to the station no later than 1:30 because it'll take time to make your way through the crowds. Oh, and wear green (or orange...if you don't know why, wear green).
This is not to be missed.
Why?
You'll see Omotesando adorned with Irish flags and thick with around 50,000 good-spirited revelers waiting for a parade of 1,500 participants with bagpipers, dancers, animals, costumes, and all manner of musicians, performers and costumes.
The festival is completely family-friendly, and you it's said that on this day every year, "everyone is Irish."
So it's really your cultural duty to attend, as a temporary Irishman/woman.
Afterwards, friends and family retire to one of Tokyo's 300 Irish pubs (most of which are family-friendly) for a pint of Guinness and a bite. And if you like beer, but not Guinness, I'll wager you've never tried it on tap.
While in Japan, it's good to take in as much of the local culture as you can. But this is entirely too much fun to pass up. It's brief, free and unforgettable.
And if Omotesando is too far for you, there are celebrations in other areas of Japan, too including, Chiba, Yokohama, Nagoya and Osaka.
For more information:
Irish Network Japan
