Shimokita Tengu Matsuri
Shimokita Tengu Matsuri or “Long Red-nosed Goblins Festival” is held at Shinryuji Temple, and on and around the shopping streets of Shimokitazawa, Setagaya-ku. On the 28th, Mamemaki, bean-throwing ceremonies, are held from noon to 1:30 p.m. with about 200 children participating on the streets near North Exit of Shimokitazawa Station A parade of tengu, men with long red-nosed masks, starts from Shinryuji Temple at 2 p.m., goes through the shopping streets throwing beans and comes back to the temple, where mamemaki is held in the compound from 4 p.m.
Access: The Odakyu Line or the Keio Inokashira Line to Shimokitazawa Station
Feb. 3
Setsubun, a traditional ceremony to dispel demons
Setsubun is a traditional ceremony to dispel demons at noted temples and shrines all over Japan. According to the lunar calendar, Setsubun marks the last day of winter. People throng temples and shrines to vie with each other for lucky beans which are thrown by priests, monks or famous figures who shout “Fuku wa uchi, oni wa soto!” (Fortune in, devils out!) to drive away imaginary devils. Mamemaki (bean-throwing ceremonies) are scheduled at the following major temples and shrines in Tokyo: (1) Sensoji Temple, Taito-ku. mamemaki (bean-throwing ceremony) takes place twice from noon and from 2 p.m., following the rites which start at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. After that, well-known figures join bean-throwing ceremonies four times from 4 to 5 p.m..
Festival website
Access: The Ginza or Toei Asakusa Subway Line to Asakusa Station (G 19, A 18)
(2) Gokokuji Temple
Gokokuji Temple, Bunkyo-ku. Wadaiko (Japanese drumming) is performed at 1 p.m. And then, a mamemaki (bean-throwing ceremony) takes place from around 3:30 p.m.
Access: The Yurakucho Subway Line to Gokokuji Station (Y 11)
(3) Hie Shrine
Hie Shrine, Chiyoda-ku. Mamemaki (bean-throwing ceremony) takes place from 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., following the rites which start at 11:30 a.m.
Access: (1) The Ginza or Namboku Subway Line to Tameike-Sanno Station (G 06, N 06), and then walk five minutes.
(2) The Ginza or Marunouchi Subway Line to Akasaka-Mitsuke Station (G 05, M 13), and then walk eight minutes.
(3) The Chiyoda Subway Line to Kokkaigijidomae Station (C 07), and then walk five minutes.
Feb. 3
Daruma-kuyo
Daruma-kuyo, memorial services for used Dharma dolls at Nishi-Arai Daishi Temple, Adachi-ku. When people make a wish and it is granted, they paint eyes of Dharma dolls. The memorial service in which the priest sets fire to stacks of used Dharma dolls while chanting a Buddhist sutra, is conducted from 11:30 a.m. to around 12 noon. Mamemaki (bean-throwing ceremony) takes place from around 3:30 p.m. to around 4 p.m..
Festival website
Access: The Tobu Isesaki Line to Nishi-Arai Station, and then take the Tobu Daishi Line to Daishi-mae Station
Feb. 3
Setsubun Mamemaki-shiki
Setsubun Mamemaki-shiki (bean-throwing ceremonies) at Takahata Fudoson Temple, Hino in the suburbs of Tokyo, take place at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. About 100 open-air stalls selling Dharma dolls are set up in and around the compound of the temple.
Access: The Keio Line or the Tama-Toshi Monorail to Takahata-Fudo Station
Feb. 3
Sohei-Gyoretsu
Sohei-Gyoretsu, a procession of monk soldiers at Hosenji Temple, Nakano-ku. About 100 monks and parishioners attired in monk soldier costumes leave Meitoku Inari Shrine at 3:30 p.m. for Hosenji Temple, to arrive there around 4 p.m. The bean-throwing ceremony takes place in the compound of the temple from around 4:30 p.m. (lasting for about 10 minutes). In the event of rain, the procession will be canceled.
Festival website
Access: The Marunouchi or Toei Oedo Subway Line to Nakano-Sakaue Station (M 06, E 30), and then walk five minutes.
Feb. 3
Oni-yarai
Oni-yarai, traditional rites for driving away devils, take place at Chichibu Shrine, Chichibu, Saitama Pref. Bean-throwing ceremonies is held at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 12 noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.. The Oni-yarai ritual is conducted at around 7:30 p.m., and fukujin-mai (Shinto dance with music) is performed at around 9 p.m..
Festival website
Access: (1) 1 hr. 50 minutes by Seibu Railways’ Express Train (Kyuko), or 1 hr. 30 minutes by Seibu Railways’ Limited Express (Tokkyu) “Red Arrow,” from Ikebukuro Station to Seibu-Chichibu Station, and then walk 15 minutes.
(2) The JR Takasaki Line to Kumagaya Station From there, the Chichibu Tetsudo Railway to Chichibu Station, and then walk 3 minutes.
Feb. 3
Setsubun-e
Setsubun-e, a traditional ceremony to dispel demons at Kawagoe Daishi Temple, Kawagoe, Saitama Pref. Mamemaki (bean-throwing ceremony) takes place from around 1:15 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., following the rites which start at 12:45 p.m.
Access: (1) The Seibu Shinjuku Line to Hon-Kawagoe Station, and then walk 15 minutes.
(2) The Tobu Tojo Line to Kawagoeshi Station, and then walk 20 minutes.
Feb. 3
Setsubun
Setsubun, a traditional ceremony to dispel demons, at Naritasan Shinshoji Temple, Narita, Chiba Pref. Mamemaki (bean-throwing ceremony) takes place three times: 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 4 p.m., each lasting for about 5 minutes.
Festival website
Access: (1) The JR Sobu Honsen-Narita Line’s Rapid Train “Airport Narita” to Narita Station, and then walk 15 minutes.
(2) The Keisei Line to Narita Station, and then walk 15 minutes.
Feb. 3
Setsubun, a traditional ceremony to dispel demons
Setsubun, a traditional ceremony to dispel demons at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine in Kamakura, about one hour by train from Tokyo. Mamemaki (bean-throwing ceremony) takes place from around 1:30 p.m., following the rites which start at 1 p.m.
Access: The JR Yokosuka Line to Kamakura Station, and then walk 10 minutes.
Feb. 3
Tsuina-Gyoretsu
Tsuina-Gyoretsu at Hakone Shrine on the shores of Lake Ashi, Hakone, Ashigara Shimo-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture. A procession of about 150 people, including 20 attired in court costumes of the Heian period (794-1185), starts from Ichi-no-Torii Gate at around 11 a.m. and arrives at Hakone Shrine around 11:30 a.m. At noon, Tsuina-shiki, rites of driving away torch-bearing devils, take place in the main hall of the shrine, and then mamemaki (bean-throwing ceremony) is held for 20 minutes.
Access: 50 minutes by bus from Odawara Station, get off at Moto-Hakone Bus Stop, and then walk five minutes to the shrine. (To go to Odawara Station, take the JR Tokaido Line or the JR Tokaido Shinkansen Line from Tokyo Station, or take the Odakyu Railways from Shinjuku Station)
Source: Japan Times
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