If you’ve read enough manga or watched enough documentaries on Japan, you might be familiar with the image of people throwing beans at demons, chasing them away with flying legumes. This is actually one of the main traditions of the Setsubun Festival (節分), a celebration that marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring, typically held within the first few days of February each year. This year, the festival is being held on February 2, 2025.

Setsubun Festival Traditions

Setsubun is associated with traditional New Year’s celebrations, so one of festival’s key activities is mamemaki (豆まき), or bean-throwing, which is said to drive away evil spirits and keep you safe in the coming months. Japanese oni, sometimes translated as “demon” or “ogre”, were once thought to be the source of illnesses and disasters of all kinds, so people would throw beans to banish them from their homes and ward off the bad luck they brought with them. Since oni don’t always seem to show themselves at opportune moments, a person wearing an oni mask acts as the target while others throw beans at them, shouting “Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!” (鬼は外 福は内), which means “Demons out! Good fortune in!”

Mamemaki is the most widely-practiced Setsubun tradition, but a relatively recent addition to the holiday is “ehomaki” (恵方巻き), which are thick sushi rolls stuffed with a wide variety of ingredients. Though this tradition only began in Osaka within the past century, people have come to believe that if you face this year’s officially designated lucky direction and eat the entire roll in silence (without cutting it!), you’ll enjoy good fortune throughout the year. So grab an ehomaki from the supermarket, stuff it in your mouth in silence with all your friends and family, and then get out there and see what fun Setsubun events there are to find in Tokyo!

Where to Celebrate Setsubun in 2025: Setsubun Festival Spots in Tokyo

① Sensoji Temple

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Setsubun celebrations at Sensoji Temple date back to the Edo period, and to this day you can stop by to see beans thrown from a stage located on the eastern side of the main hall. Unlike most Setsubun celebrations, this one actually skips the traditional call of “oni wa soto” (demons out), as temple lore tells us that no demon can stand before the goddess of mercy Kannon. Instead, participants chant “Senshu bansei! Fuku wa uchi!” which means “May you live for a thousand years! Good fortune in!” Try to time your visit so you don’t miss the temple’s performance of the Fukuju-no-mai, a dance dedicated to the Seven Lucky Gods.

② Zojoji Temple

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At Zojoji Temple, Setsubun calls for the imposing Setsubun Tsuina Ceremony, which includes a procession in traditional kamishimo attire – the formal wear once worn by samurai. On stage, you can also catch a series of performances and other events like mochi pounding demonstrations, a fun Q&A session with the “oni”, and of course some classic mamemaki bean-throwing!

③ Yoyogi Hachimangu Shrine

Not far from Yoyogi park, the Yoyogi Hachimangu Shrine hosts a Setsubun Festival that features three rounds of bean-throwing, plus a special bonus round exclusively reserved for young children to participate. Additionally, on January 31, 2025, handmade mochi will be thrown along with the beans!

④ Kanda Myojin Shrine

Kanda Myojin’s famous Setsubun Tsuina Ceremony features some classic bean-throwing rituals, but at this shrine near Akihabara, the real highlight is the celebrity factor. Kanda Myojin is known for including famous Japanese celebrities in their Setsubun festivities!

⑤ Tokyo Tower

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Setsubun celebrations aren’t just limited to Tokyo’s temples and shrines! Tokyo Tower is right next to Zojoji Temple, but it also hosts its own Setsubun Tsuina Ceremony with bean-throwing, and monks conduct a special purification ritual at a height of over 150 meters above the ground – something you’re not going to find anywhere else in the city!

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