Taking place on the last Saturday of August in Tokyo, Asakusa Samba Festival is now well-know and attracts more than 500.000 people each year.
Starting from the "Umamichi" street, the parade lasts for about five hours. Authentic Samba teams from all over the country dance in the middle of the streets. Feathers and colors everywhere.
If you're planning on going, I would advise arriving there early, as the road gets crowded really quickly (just getting out of the subway can be a real ordeal if you're not prepared).
As for finding a good spot, that's the tricky part. Considering the heat that you'll most likely experience, hiding in the shadows would be a good idea! The bravest can stand in the sun, but don't forget that August in Japan is extremely hot. Although free fans are being handed out, they honestly aren't that much help, so bring a lot of water with you if you're planning on seeing the whole parade! Like the locals, you can sit on the side of the street and enjoy the show, but be careful of sunburns! Another option in seeing the carnival from above. You can get to the top of some of the buildings of the street and admire it from there.
Samba is not really what Japan is know for, and that's what made this festival even more surprising for me. The dancers were just great. They put a lot of energy into it, and the costumes were truly astonishing. Glitter, feathers and bright colors, the Tokyo Samba Carnival has really nothing to envy of Rio.
The Land of the Rising Sun is already exotic enough for foreigners but trust me, seeing this parade will come to you as a big punch in the face. It is really something you wouldn't expect.
Also, it's probably the only day of the year where you'll find more people out on the street than inside the Senso-ji (a very famous Boudhist temple located in Asakusa). It is definitely worth it.
I only have one thing left to say...GO!
