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!
1Highlight
A Dance Offering by the Maiko and Geiko of Ponto-cho
Source：http://www.yasaka-jinja.or.jp/
In the two days of the Yasaka Shrine Setsubun festival, maiko and geiko from four different geisha districts perform a dance offering and bean throwing. It is also fun to notice the differences in the kimonos and dances of the maiko and geiko from different geisha districts. On February 2nd from 1PM, the maiko and geiko from Ponto-cho perform their elegant dance.
2Highlight
A Dance Offering by the Maiko and Geiko of Gion Higashi Kabukai Geisha House
Source：http://www.yasaka-jinja.or.jp/
On the second day of the festival, on February 3rd, there is a dance offering by the maiko and geiko of the geisha house of Gion Higashi Kabukai. A maiko and geiko dance is a rare sight even for those living in Kyoto. The sight of the maiko and geiko wearing their beautiful kimonos dancing their graceful dance is something you won’t forget. After each of the dances, the maiko and geiko are going to throw beans.
3Let's join!
Buy Lucky Beans and Get a Lottery Ticket
On the day of the Setsubun festival you can buy lucky beans that come with a lottery ticket for 300 yen a bag. All tickets are winning tickets, so the beans can be said to be good value. There are some great prizes like electronics. The drawings are held from 10AM to 5PM during the Setsubun festival. We recommend you try your luck!
