Participants throwing beans during Setsubun 2025 at Yasaka Jinja, Kyoto

Every year, in early February, Japan celebrates the Setsubun (節分) festival. This event symbolizes the end of winter and the beginning of spring, and features rituals that blend ancient traditions with modern customs. For the occasion, we went to Yasaka Jinja (八坂神社) in Kyoto on February 1, 2025, in order to fully experience this celebration.

A Bit of History

Originally, the word Setsubun literally means “division of the seasons.” In the past, this time of year was crucial for Japanese farmers because it signaled the new planting season. Over time, the festival took on a more spiritual significance: people believed that driving away evil spirits on the eve of spring would allow the new cycle to begin under the best possible conditions.

Even today, the essence of Setsubun remains the same: to banish negative energies and make room for good fortune and prosperity.

Event schedule poster for Setsubun 2025 displayed at Yasaka Jinja

Traditions That Endure

Nowadays, the most well-known event is undoubtedly mamemaki (豆まき), the throwing of roasted soybeans. At home, it’s customary for someone in the family to play the role of a “demon” by wearing a colorful mask, while the others throw the beans at them, shouting “Oni wa soto ! Fuku wa uchi !” (“Out with the demons! In with good fortune!”). This practice, both playful and symbolic, is especially fun for children, who enjoy taking part in this “demon chase.”

In temples and shrines, you’ll find a similar atmosphere, with beans being distributed to the crowd and small rituals performed to invite good luck.

Participants throwing beans during Setsubun 2025 at Yasaka Jinja, Kyoto
Close-up of ritual beans used during Setsubun 2025 at Yasaka Jinja

A Festive Treat

But Setsubun is also the time to enjoy eho-maki (恵方巻き), a large roll—literally “maki”—of rice and other ingredients that is eaten on February 3rd in one piece, facing the year’s favorable direction, known as ehō (恵方). This direction, determined by the eto (干支)—the cycle of the Chinese zodiac—changes each year. Legend has it that if you manage to finish your eho-maki without uttering a word, you will enjoy prosperity in the months ahead, which can be quite a challenge for the chattiest among us!

Even if the spiritual aspect has somewhat faded over time, the pleasure of sharing this special dish with family or friends remains intact, adding a delicious touch to the festivities.

A Tradition That Stands the Test of Time

If Setsubun has evolved over the centuries, it’s largely thanks to its festive spirit and its importance to Japanese people. Whether through religious practices or family games, everyone looks forward to clearing away past worries in order to welcome good luck and health.

In schools, children are eager to join in the soybean-throwing tradition, and through these gestures, they perpetuate precious customs while discovering an essential part of Japanese culture.

In Conclusion

Setsubun is a wonderful example of a Japanese celebration that combines spirituality, tradition, and a sense of community. Even if you don’t live in Japan, nothing is stopping you from getting a taste of this unique atmosphere by preparing eho-maki at home or hosting a mini mamemaki session with your family.

It’s a great opportunity to catch an early glimpse of spring, let go of negative vibes, and welcome the new season with optimism.

For us, the day spent at Yasaka Jinja was an incredibly enriching experience, filled with the joy and wonder of our daughters who delighted in discovering the magic of this ancient ritual. And you, what do you think of this celebration and its traditions?

Elegant Maikos in Traditional Attire at Setsubun 2025, Yasaka Jinja, Kyoto
Year of the Snake emblem for Setsubun 2025 representing the annual theme

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