Setsubun is a lively ceremony performed at various shrines and temples throughout Japan on the last day of winter, February 3rd.
The festival is noted for its bean throwing ritual. Beans are thrown to chase out bad spirits, or thrown and collected to attract good luck for the coming year.
At the shrines and temples where setsubun is performed, crowds of visitors are corralled into tightly packed areas where they are then showered with beans from notable -- sometimes famous -- guests of the ceremony, who surround the area on raised platforms.
Collecting these beans are a top priority for the masses below, and in Kansai, festival goers are especially known for eating them!
Sumiyoshi Shrine in southern Osaka and Nakayamadera Shrine on the Hankyu Takarazuka Line are two great places to see this festival unfold.
Typically, the bean throwing ritual begins sometime after midday, but you’ll need to arrive early if you want to participate and have a chance at collecting some beans for yourself.
