Witness Geisha & Maiko’s Traditional Dance and Get Luxury Prizes! －”Setsubun Festival” of Yasaka Shrine

‘Yasaka Shrine’ is located on the main street of Kyoto City, Gion Shijo. The shrine called ‘Gion-san’ is held “Setsubun Festival”(節分祭) every year on Setsubun Day and the day before. In 2023, you can participate on the 2nd and 3rd of February. The festival was held on a reduced scale due to the novel coronavirus, so it has been 2 years since that is held all events in Yasaka Shrine. There are many highlights such as the elegant Buyo-hono (舞踊奉納, dedication of dance for the deity) by maiko, and the lottery that wins luxury prizes including home appliances and works of art.

The Origin of Setsubun Festival at Yasaka Shrine

Since ancient times, it’s believed that disasters are likely to occur when the season changes, so people have been praying for future safety and prosperity all over Japan. Setsubun is one of the Japanese customs. As you might know, Setsubun is held on the day before “Risshun”(立春, the first day of spring according to the lunar calendar) in February, and it’s an event that throws beans to ward off evil spirits and invite good luck. Its history is said to date back to the Nara period (710-794), and it’s said that an event was held in the imperial palace to get rid of the demons that brought the plague. In the Muromachi Period (1336-1573), it seemed that the event of throwing beans to expel evil spirits from their homes also started to be held in the private sector as it is today. Each shrine and temple have been started holding a ceremony since 710, and the Setsubun Festival at Yasaka shrine has also been held as one of the events to expel evil spirits. (Reference from Yasaka Shrine Official Website)

“Buyo-hono” (Dedication of Dance) by Elegant Maiko and Geisha

The Setsubun Festival is an annual event to dedicate the beautiful maiko dance performed by geisha and maiko from Gion Kobu, Gion Higashi, Pontocho, and Miyagawacho, the flower towns that represent Kyoto. Behind this background, it seems to be related to the fact that geisha-ya (geisha house ) which engages many geisha and maiko flourished in the place where people gather such as an approach to shrines and temples. The dedication of dance comes with a wish for a good harvest and national peace. The dance where you can enjoy different kimonos and dances depending on the time of day is now a popular event that brightens up the Setsubun Festival.

Bean-Throwing by Geisha and Maiko, and lottery with luxury prizes

Maiko and geiko perform Mamemaki (bean-throwing) after the dance. Fukumame (lucky beans) comes with a free prize lottery, so many people try to get the beans to win a luxury prize. These lucky beans are also buyable, so if you can’t get Fukumame at throwing beans, you can participate in the lottery. The lineup of the prizes won in the lottery is different every year. By the way, in the past, home appliances and works of art were sold. In addition, the prize exchange is from 10:00AM to 5:00PM that day. Please note that you may not be able to exchange at a later date.

Gifts you can get only during Setubun Festival

The gifts are items such as bills and amulets that contain sacred power. Yasaka Shrine prepares the gifts associated with each festival of the 4 seasons, and you can get 3-limited gifts even during the Setsubun Festival. The 1st is ‘Mitsurugi-mamori’. It was prepared based on the sacred sword enshrined at Yasaka Shrine, and is filled with the wish that people will not encounter misfortune. The 2nd is ‘Fukumame’. It’s believed that the beans can ward off evil spirits and invite good luck. The 3rd is ‘Kushifuda’. This Omamori is for protection against family disasters and wishes for a peaceful year.