Setsubun (節分) falls on February 3 and marks the traditional dividing line between winter and spring. The main event is mamemaki (豆撒き) — throwing roasted soybeans to drive away evil spirits and welcome good fortune.
The Tradition
Families throw beans while chanting:
鬼は外！福は内！ Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi! “Demons out! Luck in!”
After the throwing, you eat one bean for each year of your age (plus one for the year ahead). The beans are said to purify the body and attract good health.
Where to Experience Setsubun in Tokyo
Senso-ji (Asakusa) — Tokyo’s main Setsubun event. Professional sumo wrestlers, geisha, and celebrities join the bean-throwing ceremony. Arrive early — crowds form by 10 AM.
Zojo-ji (Shiba Park) — Near Tokyo Tower. Family-friendly atmosphere with a smaller but authentic ceremony.
Kanda Myojin (near Akihabara) — Smaller ceremony with a local community feel. Easy to combine with an Akiba visit.
Eho-maki (恵方巻)
The other Setsubun tradition is eating eho-maki — a thick sushi roll — while facing the year’s lucky direction (eho), without speaking. For 2026, the lucky direction is south-southeast. Conbini sell eho-maki from late January; the best ones come from department store sushi counters.
Vocab: 鬼は外！福は内！ Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi! — “Demons out! Luck in!” The traditional chant during Setsubun mamemaki. 恵方巻 eho-maki — The lucky direction sushi roll eaten on Setsubun.