Tokyo Festivals

FEBRUARY 2024

All the schedules listed below are subject to change due to the outbreak of the coronavirus
(Please confirm information before you go at the phone numbers listed)

(*) covered events

1	Thu	*Winter Peony Exhibition at Ueno Toshogu Shrine Jan. 1 through Feb. 25
		*Winter Peony Exhibition at Ueno Toshogu Shrine Feb. 1 through Feb. 29
2	Fri
3	Sat	Setsubun Bean Throwings at Major Shrines and Temples in Japan
		*Setsubun Bean Throwings at Sensoji Temple in Asakusa
		*Setsubun Bean Throwings at Zojoji Temple in Minato-ku
		*Sohei Gyoretsu (Monk Soldiers Procession) at Hosenji Temple, Suginami-ku
		*Setsubun Bean Throwings at Naritasan in Narita, Chiba Prefecture
		*Setsubun Tsuina (Ceremony of driving out devils) at Kameido Tenjin in Koto-ku
		*Daruma Kuyo at Nishi Arai Daishi
		*Setsubun Bean Throwings at Nishi Arai Daishi Temple in Adachi-ku
		*Setsubun Bean Throwings at Shibamata Taishakuten Temple in Katsushika-ku
4	Sun	*Kameido Tenjin Ume Matsuri Feb. 4-March 4
5	Mon
6	Tue
7	Wed	*The Japan Grand Prix International Orchid Festival 2024 Feb. 7-Feb. 14
8	Thu	*Yushima Tenjin Ume Matsuri Feb. 8-March 8
9	Fri
10	Sat	*"Shunsetsu" Chinese New Year Feb. 10-Feb. 24 at Yokohama China Town
		*Mito Kairakuen Ume Matsuri (Feb. 10-March 17)
		*Ume Matsuri, Feb. 10 through March 3 at Mukojima Hyakkaen
11	Sun	Ta-asobi (Fertility festival or Rice field ritual) at Tokumaru Kitano Shrine Public visitors not allowed*
12	Mon	*Hatsuuma at Toyokawa Inari
		*Kite Fair at Oji Inari Feb. 12 and Feb.24
13	Tue	*Ta-asobi (Fertility festival or Rice field ritual) at Akatsuka Suwa Shrine
14	Wed
15	Thu	*Suigyo Kokuto-e at Nose Myokendo Temple
16	Fri
17	Sat
18	Sun
19	Mon
20	Tue
21	Wed
22	Thu
23	Fri	National Holiday - Emperor's Birthday
		*Katsuura Hina Matsuri, Feb. 23 through March 3
24	Sat
25	Sun	*Ikazuchi-no-Daihannya at Shinzoin Temple
26	Mon
27	Tue
28	Wed	*Display of Hina Dolls at the late Kusuo Yasuda's Residence Feb. 28 through March 3 and March 6 and 9 (See March calendar)
29	Thu

Daruma Kuyo at Nishi Arai Daishi Feb. 3 at 11 a.m. Nishi Arai Daishi in Adachi-ku Ritual will be held without spectators Daruma (Boddhidharma) is an Indian Buddhist who went to China; where he is said to have sat for nine years in meditation until losing his arms and legs as a result of atrophy. People paint in eyes of a daruma doll black with a brush when his wish comes true. Daruma Kuyo is a religious service for Daruma dolls which guarded wellbeings of families during the last year. People bring old daruma dolls to temples and they are ceremoniously burned. People buy new daruma dolls for the new year. URL: Nishi Arai Daishi Access: Daishi Mae Station on Tobu Daishi Line Telephone: 03-3890-2345
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Setsubun Mamemaki at Nishi Arai Daishi Feb. 3 at 3:30 p.m. Nishi Arai Daishi in Adachi-ku Setsubun (change of season) on February 3 is the last day of winter according to the lunar calendar. The traditional mamemaki (bean-throwing) ceremony is held on this day with the ogre being showered with roasted soybeans amid cries of "oni-wa soto, fuku-wa uchi" (Out with the ogre, in with good fortune!) Nishi Arai Daishi is a big temple of Shingon sect buddhism opened by Kukai (774-835). Kukai who is also known as Kobo Daishi (Great Saint) sailed to China as a student monk. He returned to found Japan's esoteric Shingon sect buddhism. Shingon sect and Tendai sect are two major esoteric buddhism forces in Japan. The headquarter of Shingon sect buddhism is at Mt. Koya (Koyasan) in Wakayama Prefecture. URL: Nishi Arai Daishi Access: Daishi Mae Station on Tobu Daishi Line Telephone: 03-3890-2345
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Setsubun Mamemaki Bean Throwing at Sensoji Temple Feb. 3, Sensoji Temple in Asakusa, Taito-ku 10 a.m. Bean throwing by Sensoji kindergarteners 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Processions and bean throwing by "Toshi Otoko" local magnates 2:30 p.m. Bean throwing by Seven Lucky Gods 4:00 p.m. Bean throwing by showbusiness personalities and by girls in furisode kimono until 5 p.m. Setsubun (change of season) on February 3 is the last day of winter according to the lunar calendar. The traditional mamemaki (bean-throwing) ceremony is held on this day with the ogre being showered with roasted soybeans amid cries of "oni-wa soto, fuku-wa uchi" (Out with the ogre, in with good fortune!) At major shrines and temples, popular personalities such as sumo wrestlers, actors, etc. are invited and scatter the beans. Bean-throwers are usually those born under the particular sign of the Zodiac of the Year and they are called "Toshi-Otoko" - "Year men." Huge crowds gather to watch them perform the ritual and try to catch the beans which are considered to be lucky charm for the year. URL: Sensoji Temple Address: 2-3-1 Asakusa, Taito-ku Access: Asakusa Station on Subway Ginza Line, Metropolitan Subway Asakusa Line, Tsukuba Express and Tobu Isezaki Line. Telephone: 03-3842-0181 (Sensoji Temple)/ 03-3842-5566 (Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center)
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Setsubun Mamemaki at Zojoji Temple Feb. 3 at 12 p.m. Zojoji Temple, Minato-ku. Setsubun (change of season) on February 3 is the last day of winter according to the lunar calendar. The traditional mamemaki (bean-throwing) ceremony is held on this day with the ogre being showered with roasted soybeans amid cries of "oni-wa soto, fuku-wa uchi" (Out with the ogre, in with good fortune!) At major shrines and temples, popular personalities such as sumo wrestlers, actors, etc. are invited and scatter the beans. Bean-throwers are usually those born under the particular sign of the Zodiac of the Year and they are called "Toshi-Otoko" - "Year men." Huge crowds gather to watch them perform the ritual and try to catch the beans which are considered to be lucky charm for the year. URL: Zojoji Nearest Stn. Hamamatsucho on Yamanote Line. 10 minutes walk. Telephone: 03-3432-1431
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Setsubun Mamemaki at Naritasan Shinshoji in Chiba Feb. 3, Bean throwing at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Setsubun Mamemaki at Naritasan is one of the most famous setsubun event in Japan. Every year, Yokozuna and other sumo wrestlers as well as famous actors and actresses appear and throw beans. This year, Yokozuna Hakuho, Baluto, Kisenosato and Okinoumi are planned to appear. Narita-san Shinshoji Temple of Shingon Sect is one of the most biggest buddhism temple in Japan. A long Omotesando (approach to the temple) is lined by numerous restaurants and stores selling traditional crafts, foods and souvenirs to pilgrims and tourists. URL: Naritasan Access: Narita Station on JR Sobu Line/ Keisei Narita Station on Keisei Line Telephone: 0476-22-2111
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Setsubun Tsuina (Ceremony of driving out devils) Feb. 3 from 5:30 p.m. Kameido Tenjin Shrine, Koto-ku Tsuina means driving out devils or exorcising. The tradition originated in ancient China. Uniqueness of this setsubun ceremony at the Kameido Tenjin Shrine is the chief shrine priest holds a dialogue with the devils and in the last the devils are ordered by the priest "This is a divine land. You have to leave here soon. Return to your land." These words as a signal, shrine priests and guests start throwing beans to the devils and they run away. URL: Kameido Tenjin Access: Kameido Station on JR Sobu Line Telephone: 03-3681-0010
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Setsubun Mamemaki at Shibamata Taishakuten Temple in Katsushika-ku Feb. 3 Bean throwings at 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.T Sumo wrestlers are popular at Setsubun event. Today, one third of about 40 senior division makuuchi wrestlers in the grand sumo are foreign born. Mongolian wrestlers are most often with ten including the two grand champions Hakuho, Harumafuji and Kakuryu. Makuuchi's heaviest wrestler Gagamaru in the picture came from Georgia near Russia. Taishakuten Temple impresses visitors with its fine old buildings. It is very unusual to find such fine old temple buildings in Tokyo. Many were destroyed in the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923 and the World War II. The Taishakuten temple miraculously survived the two disasters. URL: Taishakuten Access: Shibamata Station on Keisei Kanamachi Line Telephone: 03-3657-2886 (Taishakuten Temple)
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Sohei Gyoretsu (Monk Soldiers Procession) Feb. 3 at 3:30 p.m. Hosenji Temple, Suginami-ku Unusual setsubun ceremony will be held at Hosenji templein Suginami-ku. Warrior monks (sohei) of about 50 leave Meitoku Inari Shrine at 3:30 p.m. and arrive at Hosenji Temple at around 4 p.m. followed by thebean-throwing ceremony - throwing mikan besides beans. Sohei (Warrior monks) were attached to great Buddhist institutions from the middle of the Heian period (794-1185) to guard their estates. URL: Housenji Nearest Stn.: Nakano-Sakaue on Subway Marunouchi Line Telephone: 03-3371-7101
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Hatsu Uma Feb. 12 Toyokawa Inari at Akasaka, Minato-ku. Hatsuuma is the first horse day of the new year in lunar calendar. It is commonly regarded as the day for festival of Inari shrines. Inari shrines are generally marked with red torii and fox statues. Originally inari was the guardian deity of farmers. Word "Inari" is a combination of two words "ine" (rice plant) and "naru" (grow). The festival is extensively observed in Inari shrines throughout the nation. While most of the inari are Shinto shrines, Toyokawa Inari is a Buddhism temple. URL: Toyokawa Inari Nearest Stn. Akasaka Mitsuke on suways Ginza Line and Marunouchi Line. 5 minutes walk. Telephone: 03-3408-3414
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Tako Ichi (Kite Fair) Feb. 12 and Feb.24 from around 10 a.m. Oji Inari Shrine in Oji, Kita-ku. The shrine sells kite-shaped charms which are believed to be effective in preventing fires for 1,200 yen. Traditional Japanese kites are also sold at open-air stalls in the compound of the shrine. Oji Inari was a big shrine during the Edo period (1603-1868) being the chief Inari shrine (oinari-san) of Kanto district. The shrine is also well known for its event of "Fox March" in December. URL: Oji Inari Nearest Stn. Oji Station on JR Keihin Tohoku Line and Oji Station on Subway Nanboku Line. 03-3907-3032 (Oji Inari Shrine)
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Yushima Tenjin Ume Matsuri Feb. 8 through March 8 in 2024 Yushima Tenjin Shrine, Yushima, Bunkyo-ku. The shrine is a prime viewing spot for plum blossoms since the Edo era. "Ume Matsuri" (Plum Blossom Festival) is held in February and March delighting many visitors. On Saturdays and Sundays and on National Holiday Feb. 11, many attractions are scheduled from noon (cancelled if it rains). Followings are 2020 schedules. For this year, details are to be announced. Yushima Shiraume Taiko (Japanese drums): Feb. 8,9,11,15,16,22,23,24,29, March 1 and 2 from 3 p.m. Nodate (open-air tea ceremony by Ura Senke Tea School): Feb. 16,23 and March 1,8 from 10 a.m. (cancelled if it rains) Mikoshi: Feb. 23 (Sun), 1p.m. starting from Matsuzakaya Department Store at Ueno Hirokoji to Yushima Tenjin arriving at 3 p.m. Early Showa Era Natsumero Songs by Tokyo Taishu Kayo Music Group Feb. 16,29 and March 1 at 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Karaoke Contest: Feb. 1 from 10 a.m., (preliminary) and Final on March 8 from 12 noon. Matoi Parade: Feb. 9 from 10:30 a.m.-11:30 p.m. by Rissho Koseikai Bunkyo Kyokai Hosho School Yokyoku: Feb. 18 from 10 a.m. Satsuma Biwa: Feb. 11 and 24, 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Hyakuhachi and Koto Music: Feb. 22 and March 7, 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Flower Arrangement: Feb. 29 and March 1 Iwami Kagura: Feb. 29, 4:30 p.m. The best time to see the blossoms will be middle of February to early March. URL: Yushima Tenjin Nearest Stn.: Yushima on Subway Chiyoda Line, Okachimachi on JR Yamanote Line. From Yushima Station 3 minutes walk and from Okachimachi Station 10 minutes walk. Telephone: 03-3836-0753
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The Japan Grand Prix International Orchid Festival 2024 Feb. 7-Feb. 14 in 2024, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. at Tokyo Dome, Suidobashi, Bunkyo-ku The world's largest and most prestigious orchid show fills spacious Tokyo Dome with approximately 3,000 kinds and over 100,000 flowering orchid plants (tropical, temperate, oriental and Japanese). The show attracts over 200,000 visitors every year. Exhibitors come from 20 countries and regions this year to participate in the show. For individual plants, only one from the hundreds competing is selected as "Japan Grand Prix" with 2 million yen and a car Benz A180. URL: Orchid Festival Admission: 2,200 yen (Advance tickets are available at 1,900 yen until Feb. 10 at convenient stores) Access: Suidobashi Station on JR Chuo-Sobu Line Telephone: 03-3591-0551
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SHUNSETSU (Chinese New Year Days) Feb. 10 through Feb. 24 in 2024 Yokohama Chinatown. Shunsetsu means Spring Festival. History of Chinatown in Yokohama begins with Japan's opening of Yokohama port to foreigners in 1859. Today it is the largest Chinatown in Japan. Every year about 18 million tourists visit the town. Streets and tangled alleys include more than 200 restaurants and over 300 shops which market Chinese products - clothes, decorations, accessories, silk works, interiors, herbs, furniture, antiques, etc. The center of the town is Kantei-byo a shrine dedicated to Guan Yu, a warlord and guardian deity of Chinatown. Highlight of the festivity. A fantastic parade of people in traditional wardlobes accompanied by dragon dances and lion dances will be held along the main streets of the Chinatown. Feb. 23 from 3:30 p.m (2024). The celebrations including dragon dances, lion dances, traditional music and dances of China, acrobatics will be performed at Yamashita-cho Koen inside the Chinatown. Feb. 11,12, Feb. Feb. 17,18 (2024) URL: Chinatown Yokohama Access: Ishikawacho Station on JR Keihin Tohoku Line. Telephone: 045-662-1252
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SHUNSETSU (Chinese New Year Days) Feb. 10 through Feb. 24 in 2024 Yokohama Chinatown. Shunsetsu means Spring Festival History of Chinatown in Yokohama begins with Japan's opening of Yokohama port to foreigners in 1859. Today it is the largest Chinatown in Japan. Every year about 18 million tourists visit the town. Streets and tangled alleys include more than 200 restaurants and over 300 shops which market Chinese products - clothes, decorations, accessories, silk works, interiors, herbs, furniture, antiques, etc. The center of the town is Kantei-byo a shrine dedicated to Guan Yu, a warlord and guardian deity of Chinatown. Highlight of the festivity. A fantastic parade of people in traditional wardlobes accompanied by dragon dances and lion dances will be held along the main streets of the Chinatown. Feb. 23 from 3:30 p.m (2024). The celebrations including dragon dances, lion dances, traditional music and dances of China, acrobatics will be performed at Yamashita-cho Koen inside the Chinatown. Feb. 11,12 and Feb. Feb. 17,18 (2024). URL: Chinatown Yokohama Access: Ishikawacho Station on JR Keihin Tohoku Line. Telephone: 045-662-1252
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Winter Peonies Festival Jan. 1 through February 25 Ueno Toshogu Shrine in Taito-ku The Botan (Peony Flower) Garden at Ueno Toshogu Shrine is famous for its Kan-botan (winter peonies). Though the peonies put flowers usually in early May, the Japanese loved this plant so much that they developed the unusual, winter-flowering kan-botan (winter peonies). About 600 peony bushes including 40 varieties open their colorful blossoms under a protective straw shade. URL: http://www.uenotoshogu.com/ Nearest Stn.: JR Ueno on Yamanote Line. 5 minutes walk from Ueno Dobutsuen (Ueno Zoo) Exit. Time: 9:30-4:30 p.m. Admission: 600 yen Telephone: 03-3822-3575 (Toshogu Peony Garden)/ 03-3822-3455 (Ueno Toshogu Shrine)
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Record Setting Snow Fall in Tokyo A heavy snow storm packing strong winds hit Tokyo on Saturday (February 8). The snow reached 27cm high in the metropolitan Tokyo. It is the heaviest snow since 1969 in Tokyo. Temperatures in the Kanto region centering on Tokyo stayed below zero all day. Operations of public transportations - flights, bullet trains and commuting trains and others were badly disrupted. The Japan Meteorological Agency issued the heavy snowfall warning in advance calling on residents not to go out unless necessary. This time the forecast came true resulting in lesser damages and confusions. In Tokyo, NHK reported 136 were injured but no deaths in Tokyo.
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Ta-asobi (Fertility festival or Rice field ritual) Feb. 11 from 6 p.m. for two hours. Every year on the same day of the month. Kitano Shrine in Tokumaru, Itabashi-ku A pantomime of the various tasks of rice production in the old time will be reenacted to pray for a plentiful harvest at the beginning of the year. The same festival in a different style will be held at Suwa Jinja Shrine on the 13th from 7 p.m. Both are designated as national intangible cultural assets. Nearest Stn. Kitano Shrine - Take a bus for Akabane from Tobu Narimasu Station to Kobai Shogakko (elementary school). 5 minutes walk from the bus stop; Suwa Jinja Shrine - Shin Takashimadaira Stn. on Subway Mita Line. 15 minutes walk from the station. Google Map Telephone: 03-3579-2636 (Itabashi-ku Kyoiku Iinkai (Board of Education)
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Ta-asobi (Fertility festival or Rice field ritual) Feb. 13 from 7 p.m. for two hours. Every year on the same day of the month. Akatsuka Suwa Shrine in Daimon, Itabashi-ku Ta-asobi is a traditional ceremony to pray for good harvests and family prosperity prior to the beginning of a new planting season. The ceremony includes a presentation of replicated acts with gestures and movements that represent the thorough process of rice cultivation, which is dedicated to a local guardian deity. The ceremony is held at various locations nationwide during the Lunar New Year. The ceremonies at Suwa Shrine and Kitano Shrine in Itabashi are rare cases in which original forms of the rituals have virtually been unchanged until today. Both are designated as nation's important intangible folklore cultural assets. Nearest Stn.: Shin-Takashimadaira Stn. on Subway Mita Line. 15 minutes walk from the station. Google Map Telephone: 03-3938-6400
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Ume Matsuri at Koishikawa Korakuen Feb. 4 through March 10 in 2023. Koishikawa Korakuen was the Edo residence of Yorifusa Tokugawa - the founder of the Mito Tokugawa family. The garden was completed by the second clan ruler Mitsukuni Tokugawa (1628-1701). The garden features a central pond and hills, making it perfect for a stroll. When Mitsukini set about constructing the garden, he incorporated some concepts of the Chinese Confucian scholar Shushunsui of the Ming dynasty, including a garden reproduction of Seiko Lake (China), a "Full Moon Bridge" and other features with cultural origins in China. Mitsukuni loved ume (Prunus mume) blossoms so much that he named this ume grove "bairi" (home of ume). There are 20 types of blooming ume trees in the grove. (From Koishikawa Korakuen Pamphlet) URL: Koishikawa Korakuen Open: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (Closed: Year-end holidays Dec. 29 through Jan. 1) Admission: 300 yen Address: 1-6-6 Koraku, Bunkyo-ku Access: Iidabashi Stn on Toei O-edo Line/ Iidabashi Stn. on JR Sobu-Chuo Line. Telephone: 03-3811-3015
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Suigyo Kokuto-e Feb. 15 at 1 p.m. (every year same day same time) Nose Myokendo Temple in Ishihara 4-chome, Sumida-ku A ceremony of cold-water purification in pray for peace of the nation is practised at the temples which belong to the Nichiren sect of the Buddhism Nichirenshu founded by Nichiren. Nichiren (1222-1282) is known for his teachings being aggressive and nationalistic. Believers in loin cloth pour cold water over themselves reciting the sutra. Nearest Stn. Honjo-Azumabashi on Subway Toei Asakusa Line. 10 minutes walk. Google Map Telephone: 03-3623-2485
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Ume Matsuri Feb. 4-March 4 in 2024 Kameido Tenjin Shrine in Koto-ku. The blossoms of ume are welcomed as the first flower of spring in Japan from long past. The tree originally came from China. Tenjin shrines which are found in many places in the country enshrine Sugawara Michizane (845-903) who is nicknamed Tenjin-Sama. He was a noble man, a politician and a great scholar. His famous poem "Kochi Fukaba Nioi Okoseyo Ume-no Hana Aruji Nashitote Haruna Wasureso" (The east wind has come and it is now spring. Apricot trees in the garden, do not forget to put flowers though I will not be here) is believed to be made when he had to leave Kyoto to his exiled place at Dazaifu in Kyushu. Today, he is adored as a god of learnings and many students come to pray for their success before the entrance examinations. URL: Kameido Tenjin Nearest Stn. Kameido on JR Sobu Line. 15 minutes walk. Telephone: 03-3681-0010
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Ume Matsuri Feb. 10 through March 3 in 2024 Mukojima Hyakka-en Garden in Sumida-ku. Attractions scheduled for this year: Suzume Odori of Sendai on Feb. 16 and March 1 in 2020 at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m./ Daidogei on Feb. 9 and Feb. 13 at 11:40 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. The garden was built in the early 19th century by a wealthy merchant of Edo, Sahara Kiku-u. Hyakka-en means A Hundred Flowers Garden. The garden covers little more than 2 acres but is intensely planted with trees, deciduous shrubs, flowering bushes and a tunnel of bush clover. When the garden was first built, it featured 360 ume trees. Visitors can enjoy various flowers throughout four seasons. Photos include a fan tossing game (cancelled for this year) and a person listening to "music" made by water trickling into a vase. URL: Mukojima Hyakkaen Time: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (closed Dec. 29-Jan. 3) Access: Higashi-Mukojima on Tobu Isezaki Line from Asakusa. 15 minutes walk. Closed on Mon. Admission: 150 yen. Telephone: 03-3611-8705
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Mito Kairakuen Mito Ume Matsuri Feb. 10-March 17 in 2024 Every year about one million people visit the city for the festival. Kairakuen in Mito was a landscape gardening project started by Nariaki Tokugawa (1800-1860) Ninth feudal lord of the Mito Clan of Tokugawa Shogun family. The park opened in July 1842. The name "Kairakuen" comes from a saying within The Book of Mencius which states, "The ancients would share the pleasure with people, so their pleasures would be hearty and deep." Korakuen was built for not only feudal lords or feudal warriors, but also for commoners. Therefore, the design incorporates characteristics from modern parks as well as formal Japanese landscape gardens. In early spring, about 100 different types of 3,000 plum trees put flowers, making Kairakuen one of the three most famous parks of Japan. Mito is about 70 miles northeast of Tokyo and one hour train trip by Super Express Hitachi from JR Ueno Station. The train runs every one hour from Ueno. URL: Kairakuen Address: Tokiwa-cho, Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture Telephone: 029-244-5454 Admission: free Open: Open all day 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Access: 15 minutes by bus from JR Joban Line Mito Station
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Plum Trees (Ume) at Kinuta Park in Setagaya-ku The metropolitan park was built in 1957 at the place where a metropolitan golf field was before. The park covers a wide area of 391,262 square meters. Inside the park are The Setagaya Museum, a soccer field, a baseball field, a cycling course, a restaurant, etc. Fee charging car parking is available at a space near the museum. The park enjoys many visitors for plum tree flowers and cherry blossoms in spring and colored leaves in autumn. URL: Kinuta Park Address: 1-chome, Okura, Kinuta Koen, Setagaya-ku Access: 20 minutes walk from Yoga Station on Tokyu Den-en Toshi Line/ Tokyu Bus for Setagaya Museum from Yoga Station (get off at Setagaya Museum) Telephone: 03-3700-0414
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Kawazu-Sakura Matsuri Kawazu Town, Izu, Shizuoka Prefecture Feb. 1 through Feb. 29 in 2024 The Kawazu-zakura cherry blossoms have become famous as some of the earliest-blooming cherry blossoms in Tokyo's outlying areas. Typical cherry trees in Tokyo "somei yoshino" put flowers between late March and early April and the flowers are in bloom very short time. While Kawazu-zakura flowers' outstanding characteristic is that they are large and pink and they are in bloom for about a month. There are 8,000 cherry trees in Kawazu, and the area holds "The Kawazu-zakura Cherry Blossom Festival" in the blossoming season, to which a million both Japanese and foreign tourists visit. URL: Kawazu Kanko Kyokai Access: Kawazu Station on Izukyu Line from Atami Telephone: 0558-32-0290 (Kawazu Tourist Association)
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Katsuura Hina Matsuri (Doll Festival) Feb. 23 through March 3 in 2024. Katsuura City, Chiba Prefecture 1,200 traditional Hina Dolls are placed on the 60 steps of the Toomisaki Shrine in Katsuura City, Chiba Prefecture and 24,000 hina dolls decorate the entire city at various festivity spots from Feb. 24 till March 4. (if it rains, the hina dolls at the shrine will be removed). Hina Matsuri is a festival for girls on March 3. On this day, ornamental court dolls representing the emperor and empress, attendants, and musicians in traditional court dress of the Heian Period are displayed on a specially set up red carpet in the homes, and games played, stories told and a feast given. Girls and guests are served with ama sake (sweet drink made from fermented rice). The altar is also decorated with boughs of peach blossoms and make offerings to the hina dolls of freshly made rice cakes (mochi), either flavored with a wild herb or colored and cut into festive diamond shapes. URL: Katsuura Hinamatsuri Access: Katsuura Station on JR Soto-bo Line. About 2 hours train trip from Tokyo. Telephone: 0470-73-6641
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Emperor's Birthday February 23 Emperor Naruhito will celebrate his 64th birthday on February 23, 2024. Emperor with Empress Masako and other royal family members answers to well-wishers at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. Entrance: Main Gate (Nijubashi) 9:30 a.m.-11:20 a.m. Appearances: 10:20 a.m., 11 a.m. and 11:40 a.m. On 22 October, 2019, upon the abdication of Emperor Akihito, His Majesty Emperor Naruhito acceded to the throne as the 126th Emperor of Japan. Emperor Naruhito was born in Tokyo on 23 February in 1960 as the first son of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko. He has one younger brother Prince Akishino and one younger sister who married to a civilian. On June 1993, Crown Prince Naruhito married Miss Masako Owada, daughter of Mr. Hisashi Owada a Japanese diplomat. Empress Masako was born in Tokyo on 9 December 1963. They have one daughter Princess Aiko. URL: Imperial Household Agency) Telephone: 03-3213-1111 (Imperial Household Agency)
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Ikazuchi-no-Daihannya (Festival) at Shinzoin Temple in Kasai, Edogawa-ku on Feb. 25 in 2024 at 8:30 a.m. Ikazuchi is the old name of this town which is now called Higashi Kasai. The event is held every year on the last Sunday of February. Young Men dressed in long colorful kimono undergarments (naga-juban) run from house to house to chase evil spirits away. The legend tells the priest of Shinzoin temple visited house to house carrying scrolls of Hannya Kyo the Wisdom sutras (Prujna-paramita-sutra) of 600 volumes to chase evil spirits away when cholera prevailed in Edo (Tokyo) toward the end of Edo era. This attempt was successful and prevented cholera to spread in the district. In the festival, the Hannya sutras are carried in 6 containers. Another legend tells a man who lived in this district dressed in women's kimono to drive away evil spirits for his sister who was suffering from tuberculosis. Google Map Address: 4-38-9 Higashi Kasai, Edogawa-ku Access: Kasai Station on Subway Tozai Line Telephone: 03-3680-4853
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Tokyo is located at 35.41N in latitude and is a little more to south than Athens in Greece and approximately the same as Tunis in Northern Africa, and midway between San Francisco at 38N and Los Angeles at 33N. Hence, snow is a rare thing in Tokyo. It snows only a couple of days a year. But if it snows, it often paralizes the metropolitan area transportation systems. We had a considerable snow (10 cm) on Feb. 29, 2012 in Tokyo This year (2012), winter was long and cold and it snowed a lot in the districts facing the Japan Sea. The cold winds from the continent pick up a lot of moistures while passing over the Japan Sea and it drops heavy snow when the winds from the continent hit the high mountains of mainland Japan. The cold winds which dropped moistures become dry and cold air and blow into the districts facing the Pacific Ocean. In Kanto district, the strong dry wind in winter is called "kara-kaze."
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