Setsubun in Japan

Setsubun is a festival celebrated one day before the beginning of spring in the old calendar in Japan which used to be a lunar calendar.

It is held mostly on February 2, 3 or 4 and its purpose is driving away evil spirits.

There have been different ways of expelling evil spirits but the most common Setsubun performance in these days is throwing beans and ask for happiness. It can be held everywhere such as the houses, temples and shrines.

We throw the beans, while shouting “Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!”. It means “Devils out, good fortune in”.

Afterwards we pick up the exact number of beans as our age and eat them to be fortunate the whole year!

Oshin Tours wishes  you health, happiness and good fortune throughout the year.