Shogo-in Temple Setsubun Festival

Last Updated on January 28, 2025

calendar_month DATE Feb 01 2025 - Feb 02 2025
schedule TIME 9:00 am - 7:30 pm
payments Cost FREE
info Website Official Website
location_on Location Shogoin Temple
map Area Kyoto
category CATEGORY Festival

Event Overview

Setsubun is a time of seasonal change, and is known for the custom of throwing beans saying “Oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi” (“Demons out, good fortune in”) to drive away evil and bring in good fortune.

Demon at Shogo-in Temple Setsubun Festival
Demon at Shogo-in Temple Setsubun Festival

Demons are primarily seen as symbols of misfortune and disaster, but this is not the case at our Setsubun festival and Oni-oi Shiki ceremony.

In other words, when monks and ascetics throw beans at the demons and chant mantras, the demons will have a change of heart and become “lucky demons” who will bestow good fortune on everyone, just like the lucky men and women.

En no Gyoja, the founder of Shugendo, the sect of Shogoin, had a married demon couple as his disciples.

After En no Gyoja subjugated these two demons, Maeoni and Usagi, and reformed them, they have continued to help ascetic monks through generations to this day.

The demon ancestors of the distant past showed us the example of taking the opportunity to reflect on one’s behavior and strive to do good deeds.

For this reason, at Setsubun at Shogoin, after a demon is subjugated, it is not banished, but rather people simply chant “Fuku wa uchi” (good fortune in), inviting good fortune along with the demon.

Subjugated demon at Shogo-in Temple Setsubun Festival
Subjugated demon at Shogo-in Temple Setsubun Festival

At the end of the ceremony, the subjugated demon also joins in the bean-throwing, and after the memorial service, the reformed demon may directly bestow a blessing upon you.

A metal club is used in the Oni-oi Shiki blessing, but rest assured that the metal club of the reformed demon is gentle on the human body.

Both the lucky beans and the darani beans are available for 300 yen per bag.

Shogo-in Temple Setsubun Festival Beans
Shogo-in Temple Setsubun Festival Beans

The lucky beans are the three colors of red, blue, and yellow, which are the colors of the lucky demons, and are used to pray to the principal deity, Acala, for protection from misfortune and good fortune.

The darani beans come as a card-type amulet with the beans attached. Please take advantage of this opportunity to receive the lucky beans and spend the year in good health.

Order of events

Most events occur on the 2nd day of this festival. On the 1st day, the Shogoin Yamabushi and children from Mibu-dera kindergarten will parade around the temple and perform a memorial service, after which a large goma prayer will be held in front of the main hall at 2:00 pm.

Starting at 10am on the second day, the Yamabushi (Heian Rengokai) of Shogoin Temple will be serving freshly brewed sweet sake. As it is a very cold season, please come and warm your body and soul, and take your time to explore the temple grounds.

Amazake at Shogo-in Temple Setsubun Festival
Amazake at Shogo-in Temple Setsubun Festival

At 1pm on the second day, the Oni-oi Shiki takes place. Beans are thrown at demons to drive away misfortune and disaster. The demon are subjugated and invited in along with good luck.

From 3pm on the second day, the secret Shugendo technique, the Saito Daigoma Ku, will be solemnly performed in the south garden of the Shinden Hall.

2024 Saito Daigoma Ku

During this goma rite, the mountain ascetics recite sutras loudly, and Setsubun talismans are offered for prayer, which are applied for from all over the country as they are believed to be effective in warding off misfortune and bringing good fortune.

The ancient goma ritual is also a rare opportunity to see the living traditions of Shugendo, and the smoke from the goma that flows to the audience is said to ward off evil.

Starting at 6pm on the second day, a mountain ascetic will use the embers from the goma fire to perform a ritual to remove the spirits and amulets that have been used over the past year and burn them.

Goma fire at Shogo-in Temple Setsubun Festival
Goma fire at Shogo-in Temple Setsubun Festival

Old amulets can be left to be burned on both days, regardless of the temple or shrine from which they were received or the sect they belonged, until the time when the old amulets are burned. Old amulets should be placed in the old amulet storage area on the grounds or given to a monk directly.

Venue Information

Location: Shogoin Temple, 15 Shogoin Nakamachi, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, 606-8324, Japan

Dates: 1st February until 2nd February 2025

Opening Times: 9:00 to 19:30 daily.

Entry Cost

Free.

Getting There

The temple is a 15 minute walk from Jingu-Marutamachi Station on the Keihan Main Line.

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