Crowds of people have gathered in Tokyo's Asakusa district to watch a traditional Shinto festival that heralds the arrival of early summer.

The annual Sanja Matsuri, linked to Asakusa Shrine, dates back about 700 years.

This year's festivities began on Friday with a large procession, led by a float carrying people playing traditional musical instruments. The procession included geisha as well as men wearing old-style jackets.

During the one-hour parade women in costumes representing white herons performed a traditional dance, spreading wings.

The procession made its way through the Kaminari-mon gate to Asakusa's Senso-ji temple where the iconic huge red lantern was folded to allow them to pass through.

A woman from Canada said it was her first experience of a Japanese festival. She said the procession was interesting and the music using Japanese drums and other instruments was amazing.

The festival will reach its climax on Sunday, when 3 portable shrines will be carried through the streets.