Setsubun 2025 in Japan

Setsubun (literally "seasonal division") is a Japanese beans-throwing festival celebrated all across Japan on February 3. According to the Japanese lunar calendar, this is the day before the start of spring. The tradition is to cast away demons and welcome spring.

Origins

Setsubun is not a national holiday, but it has been observed for centuries with rituals aimed at driving away evil spirits to mark the beginning of spring. As early as the 13th century, customs included burning dried sardine heads to create a pungent smell, using the smoke of burning wood, and making noise with drums to ward off evil spirits. While these traditions are no longer widely practiced, some people still place fish heads and leaves from holy trees at their house entrances to keep evil spirits at bay. Today, the most popular Setsubun ritual involves throwing roasted beans, a practice carried out in homes as well as at temples and shrines across Japan.

Celebration Highlights

Setsubun is mostly a household celebration. Parents wear demon masks, and kids throw roasted soybeans at the "evil spirits" with a chant of "Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!" which means "Demons out! Luck in!" Afterward, it is customary to gather and eat a number of beans equal to your age. Another popular tradition involves eating Eho-maki sushi rolls in silence while facing the year's designated lucky direction.

Festival at Sensoji Temple

Apart from the households, you can also witness Setsubun at temples and shrines of the country. One of the largest festivals takes place at Sensoji temple in Tokyo. The festivities attract 100,000 visitors yearly.

Uniquely at Sensoji, the phrase "Oni wa soto" (demons out) is not used; instead, they chant "Senshu banzai, fuku wa uchi" (Long Life! Welcome good fortune!) to reflect the belief that no demons stand before Kannon, the temple's revered deity. Beyond the bean-throwing, the festival includes a captivating performance of the Fukuju no Mai (Dance of the Seven Lucky Gods), which is one of Sensoji's three major temple dances.

Other Locations

More locations to experience the Japanese beans-throwing holiday in the area of Tokyo include Zojoji Temple, Ikegami Honmonji Temple, Kawasaki Daishi in Kawasaki, Naritasan Shinshoji Temple in Narita, and Takahatasanmyooin Kongoji in Hino. Tens of thousands of attendees come to see the splendid celebration. Outside of Tokyo, Yasaka Shrine and Kitano-temmangū Shrine in Kyoto also promise stunning Setsubum celebrations.