Mita festival

What Is the Mita Festival?

The Mita Festival (Mitasai) is a university festival held each autumn at the Mita Campus of Keio University in Mita, Minato Ward, Tokyo. Known as one of Japan's leading university festivals, it unfolds over four days with food stalls, research presentations, stage events, and lectures by prominent figures, all planned and run primarily by students. It is an autumn tradition in which the history of Keio University blends with the vitality of its students.

History and Origins

The Mita Festival has built up a long history as a cultural celebration by the students of Keio University. Against the backdrop of the academic spirit of Keio, founded by Fukuzawa Yukichi, it developed as a venue for presenting the fruits of learning, culture, and the arts, and today it is a major event at which clubs, seminars, and study groups showcase the culmination of their everyday activities. Under a tradition that values student self-governance and ingenuity, it welcomes many visitors each year and is cherished as a university festival open to the wider community.

Highlights

The highlights are the many and varied events that unfold across the entire campus. Food stalls run by student groups with creative themes line the grounds, bustling with visitors who stroll the campus while enjoying gourmet treats. The academic research presentations by study groups and seminars convey the accumulated knowledge of Keio and satisfy intellectual curiosity. On the stages, performances of music, dance, and theater are presented, while lectures and talk events featuring prominent figures are popular fixtures each year. Visitors can experience four days brimming with the enthusiasm of the students.

When It Takes Place

The festival is typically held over four days around Culture Day in autumn (November) at the Mita Campus of Keio University. As an autumn university festival, its season is autumn. Because admission and the details of each program vary from year to year, visitors are advised to confirm in advance through official announcements from the Keio University Mita Festival Executive Committee.

Access

The Mita Campus of Keio University boasts excellent access, within walking distance of Tamachi Station on the JR Yamanote and Keihin-Tōhoku Lines and Mita Station on the Toei Mita and Asakusa subway lines. Located in central Tokyo, it is easily reached from all directions. As it draws many visitors during the festival, public transport is recommended.

Around the Area

The area around the Mita Campus enjoys a central-city location close to landmarks representative of Tokyo such as Tokyo Tower, Zōjō-ji temple, and Shiba Park. Visitors can stroll a townscape where historic temples and shrines coexist with modern high-rises, with good access toward Shinagawa and Hamamatsuchō. Together with the university festival, it is a convenient area as a base for Tokyo sightseeing, where one can also engage with the history of the birthplace of Keio.

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