Mar. 07, 2022 UPDATE
Yasaka Shrine’s Setsubun Festival
- 節分祭 -Traveler Friendly
Yasaka Shrine is popular tourist destination with good access. Locals and tourists alike flock to the festival because it is a chance to see maiko.
Information
They have an English homepage
Languages spoken
Only Japanese
PeriodFebruary 2-3
VenueYasaka Shrine
Story & Recommendation
Maiko Dance and Bean Throwing at Yasaka Shrine’s Setsubun Festival
Source：http://www.yasaka-jinja.or.jp/
Yasaka Shrine is an ancient shrine in the popular tourist area of Gion. Every year in February the shrine is bustling with visitors come to see maiko – apprentice geisha, dance and throw beans. The festival runs from February 2nd to 3rd, and during the festival you can see maiko from four geisha districts of Kyoto. There is a lot to the Setsubun festival at Yasaka Shrine: you can buy lucky beans that come with a lottery ticket, get a paper amulet on a stick that keeps the evil at bay for a year, and eat zenzai red bean soup that wards off evil. Every year there are Setsubun festivals with demon exorcism and bean throwing at most of Kyoto’s shrines, but the most “Kyoto-like” festival has to be the Yasaka Shrine Setsubun Festival. The graceful dance and bean throwing by the maiko is certainly worth a visit!
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Sharing Kyoto Staff
Details
Event time
On both days the festival starts at 10AM.
＜February 2＞
At 1PM Maiko and geiko from the Ponto-cho Kabukai geisha house perform a dance and throw beans
At 2PM Maiko and geiko from the Yasaka Gagakukai geisha house perform a dance and throw beans
At 3PM Maiko and geiko from the Miyagawa-cho Kabukai geisha house perform a dance and throw beans
At 3PM Shijo Han’eikai Shopping Street Promotion Association bean throwing
＜February 3＞
At 11AM Heian period Imayo song offering and bean throwing
At 1PM Maiko and Geiko from Gion Kobu Kabukai perform a dance and throw beans
At 3PM Maiko and geiko from Gion Higashi Kabukai perform a dance an throw beans
At 4PM Shijo Han’eikai Shopping Street Promotion Association bean throwing
Cancellations
Rain or shine
Price range
Free admission
Credit cards
Not accepted
