Tokyo Festivals

FEBRUARY 2013

(*) covered events

1	Fri
2	Sat	*All Japan Nishikigoi Prize Show
3	Sun	Setsubun Bean Throwings at Major Shrines and Temples in Japan/ Daruma Kuyo at Nishi Arai Daishi/ :*Sohei Gyoretsu (Monk Soldiers Procession) at Hosenji Temple, Suginami-ku
		*All Japan Nishikigoi Prize Show
4	Mon

5	Tue	Izu Kawazu-Sakura Matsuri through March 10 (best time to see toward the end of February)
6	Wed
7	Thu
8	Fri	*Ume Matsuri Feb. 8 through March 8 at Yushima Tenjin, Bunkyo-ku.
		*Hari Kuyo at Shojuin
9	Sat	Hatsu Uma/Kite Fair at Oji Inari
		*Ume Matsuri (Japanese Apricot Blossoms Festival) Feb. 9 through March 10 at Kameido Tenjin Shrine
		*Ume Matsuri (Japanese Apricot Blossoms Festival) Feb. 9 through March 10 at Mukojima Hyakkaen
10	Sun	*Shunsetsu (Chinese New Year in traditional Lunar Calendar) Feb. 10 through 24 at Yokohama Chinatown
11	Mon	National Holiday (Kenkoku Kinenbi - Nation Foundation Day)
		*Ta-asobi (Fertility festival or Rice field ritual) at Kitano Shrine
12	Tue
13	Wed	*Ta-asobi (Fertility festival or Rice field ritual) at Akatsuka Suwa Shrine
14	Thu
15	Fri	*Suigyo Kokuto-e
16	Sat	*The Japan Grand Prix International Orchid Festival from Feb. 16 through Feb. 24
17	Sun	*Shunsetsu (Chinese New Year) Big Parade at Chinatown in Yokohama
18	Mon
19	Tue
20	Wed
21	Thu	*Kite Fair at Oji Inari
22	Fri	*Katsuura Hina Matsuri, Feb. 22 through March 3
23	Sat
24	Sun	*Ikazuchi-no-Daihannya
25	Mon
26	Tue
27	Wed
28	Thu

All Japan Nishikigoi Prize Show sponsored by All Japan Nishikigoi Promotion Association Feb. 2 (Sat) and Feb. 3 (Sun) Tokyo Heiwajima Ryutsu Center in Ota-ku. The Japanese people have long praised the koi as the "king of river fish." There are tales in many parts of Japan in which old carp living in ponds or rivers are regarded as the masters of such waters. The fish grows to over 1 meter in length. It was an important food fish in old Japan. The breeding of carp is believed to have developed in Edo days (1600-1867). The carp were sold not only as food but also as pets for their beauty. Many new types of beautiful carp have been bred in Niigata and among them, nishikigoi has become most famous. Some have red and white spots n a white body, or have red, black and white markings. Access: Ryutsu Center Station on Tokyo Monorail from Hamamatsucho Telephone: 0258-83-3345 (All Japan Nishikigoi Promotion Association in Ojiya, Niigata)/ 03-3767-2111 (Tokyo Ryutsu Center)
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Daruma Kuyo at Nishi Arai Daishi Feb. 3 (Sun) at 11 a.m. Nishi Arai Daishi in Adachi-ku 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. Access: Daishi Mae Station on Tobu Daishi Line Telephone: 03-3890-2345
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Setsubun Mamemaki at Nishi Arai Daishi Feb. 3 (Sun) 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. Access: Daishi Mae Station on Tobu Daishi Line Telephone: 03-3890-2345
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Setsubun Mamemaki at Sensoji Temple in Asakusa Feb. 3 (Sun) 10 a.m. Bean throwing by Sensoji kindergarteners 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Processions and bean throwing by local magnates 2:30 p.m. Bean throwing by Seven Lucky Gods 4 p.m. Bean throwing by showbusiness personalities 4:40 p.m. Bean throwing by girls in furisode kimono 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. 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)/ 03-3844-1221 (Asakusa Kanko Renmei)
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Setsubun Mamemaki at Zojoji Temple Feb. 3 (Sun) at 12:30 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. Mamemaki rite at 12 noon 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 (Sun) bean throwing at 11a.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 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. 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 (Sun) 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 the 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. Access: Kameido Station on JR Sobu Line Telephone: 03-3681-0010
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Sohei Gyoretsu (Monk Soldiers Procession) Feb. 3 (Sun) at 3:30 p.m. Hosenji Temple, Suginami-ku Unusual setsubun ceremony will be held at Hosenji temple in 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 the bean-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. Nearest Stn.: Nakano-Sakaue on Subway Marunouchi Line Telephone: 03-3371-7101
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Hatsu Uma Feb. 9 (Sat) 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. 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. 9 (Sat) and Feb. 21 (Thu) 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. Kites are also sold at open-air stalls in the compound of the shrine. Oji Inari was a big shrine during the Edo period being a chief Inari shrine of Kanto district. Nearest St.n. Oji on the JR Keihin Tohoku Line and Oji on Subway Nanboku Line. 03-3907-3032 (Oji Inari Shrine)
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Hari Kuyo Feb. 8 (Fri) from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Shojuin Temple in Shinjuku Masses for broken needles is held in the precincts of the temple. It is considered that the needles life has been sacrificed in service. On a special altar, offerings of rice cake and fruit are placed. And into a large tofu (a soft bean curd), broken needles are thrust in order to give them a comfortable rest after their hard working life. The ceremony was widely held in in the past by housewives, clothmakers and students of sewing schools. Nearest Stn. Shinjuku Gyoen-mae on Subway Marunouchi Line. 10 minutes walk. Telephone: 03-3341-1416
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Yushima Tenjin Ume Matsuri Feb. 8 (Fri) through March 8 (Fri) Yushima Tenjin, 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, many attractions are scheduled: Yushima Shiraume Taiko (Japanese drums) Feb. 9,10,11,16,17,23,24 and March 2, 3 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Nodate (open-air tea ceremony) Feb. 10,17,24 and March 3, 11a.m. Biwa (Japanese lute) Feb 9,16 and 23, 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. The best time to see the blossoms will be middle of February to early March. 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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Ta-asobi (Fertility festival or Rice field ritual) Feb. 11 (Mon) from 6 p.m. for two hours. Kitano Shrine in Tokumaru, Itabashi-ku Similar event is held at nearby Suwa Shrine in Akatsuka, Itabashi-ku on Feb. 13 (Sat) from 7 p.m. 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 (Fri) 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. 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 (Wed) from 7 p.m. for two hours. 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. Telephone: 03-3938-6400
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Ume Matsuri iat Koishikawa Korakuen Feb. 8 (Fri) through March 3 (Sun). 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) 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 (Fri) 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 held at the temple which belongs to the Nichiren sect of the Buddhism founded by Nichiren (1222-1282) whose teachings known for its nationalistic ideas. Believers in loin cloth pour cold water over themselves reciting the sutra. Nearest Stn. Honjo-Azumabashi on Subway Toei Asakusa Line. 10 minutes walk. Telephone: 03-3623-2485
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Ume Matsuri (Japanese Apricot Blossoms Festival) Feb. 9 (Sat) through March 10 (Sun) 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. Nearest Stn. Kameido on JR Sobu Line. 15 minutes walk. Telephone: 03-3681-0010
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Ume Matsuri (Japanese Apricot Blossoms Festival) Feb. 9 (Sat) through March 10 (Sun) Mukojima Hyakka-en Garden in Sumida-ku. 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 and a person listening to "music" made by water trickling into a vase. Fan tossing games will be held on Feb. 14,21 and 28 from 10 am. to 12 noon. 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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Kawazu-Sakura Matsuri Kawazu Town, Izu, Shizuoka Prefecture Feb. 5 through March 10 Best time to see will be toward the end of February 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. 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. 22 (Fri) through March 3 (Sun). 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. Access: Katsuura Station on JR Soto-bo Line. About 2 hours train trip from Tokyo. Telephone: 0470-73-6641
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Shunsetsu (Chinese New Year in traditional lunar calendar). Feb. 10 through Feb. 24 at 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. The celebrations including dragon dances, lion dances, traditional music and dances of China, acrobatics will be performed at Yamashita-cho Koen inside the Chinatown on Feb. 16,23 and 24. The highlight of the festivity comes on Sunday Feb. 17 from 2 p.m.. 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. Access: Ishikawacho Station on JR Keihin Tohoku Line. Telephone: 045-662-1252
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The Japan Grand Prix International Orchid Festival 2013 Feb. 16 through Feb. 24, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tokyo Dome 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 (The 22nd for this year) attracts over 200,000 visitors every year. Exhibitors come from 21 countries and regions 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 saloon car as the prize. Blue orchids of Borneo are shown for the first time in Japan. Admission: 2,000 yen Access: Suidobashi Station on JR Chuo-Sobu Line Telephone: 03-6739-6940
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Ikazuchi-no-Daihannya (Festival) at Shinzoin Temple in Kasai, Edogawa-ku on Feb. 24 (Sun) at 8:30 a.m. Ikazuchi is the old name of this town which is now called Higashi Kasai. 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. 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 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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