Setsubun is one of traditional Japanese event held on February 3rd. People scatter roasted soy beans to get rid of bad luck and invite fortune. On the day of Setsubun, there are many Setsubun festivals around Japan. The most famous Setsubun Festival is held in Mt. Narita, a Buddhist temple. Mt. Narita is in Chiba prefecture which is near from Tokyo and it is only 8 minutes away from Narita International Airport.

What is Setsubun?

Word of “Setsubun” means “division of seasons.” February 4th is the beginning of spring on the old lunar calendar. So the day before the beginning of spring is called “Setsubun.” On the day of Setsubun, people scatter Mame, roasted soy beans, and eat them. People use beans because the word of “Mame” is similar to “Mametsu” which means “drive away evils.”

About Mt.Narita


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Mt.Narita is a Buddhist temple which was built in 940. Mt. Narita’s official name is “Naritasan Shinshoji.” But people usually call the temple as“Mt. Narita.” Mt. Narita is the main temple of 65 temples of Shingon sect Chisan group. There is a Buddhist doctrine of Goma-gyo (burn small pieces of wood on the altar to invoke divine help) and at Mt. Narita they never put out the fire since the temple was open in 1000 years ago.

Mt. Narita’s New Year’s Event and the number of New Year’s Hatsumode (first visit of temple of the year) is the second biggest in Japan. But Mt. Narita is known especially for Setsubun Festival. Setsubun Festival of Mt. Narita is widely reported to the public every year and it is the best known Setsubun event in Japan.

Setsubun Festival at Mt. Narita


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Mt. Narita’s Setubun Festival is held on February 3rd every year. There are two parts in Setsubun event, at first they have Goma-gyo to pray for national tranquility, a bountiful grain harvest, and affluent life of people. After Goma- gyo, Mamemaki (scatter beans) events are will begin. They have Mamemaki event three times at the Setsubun day. At the event, 1260 kg of beans are scattered. They scatter good luck charms, too. Many people would rush to the front in order to get the charms and beans in exchange for good fortune.

When they scatter beans of Setsubun, people usually say “Out with the devil! In with good fortune.” But at Mt. Narita, they only say “In with good fortune.” Because they believe that their Buddhist deity, Acalantha, would change the devil to good by his mercy and there is no evil.

Their Setubun festival is famous because celebrities participate the event and scatter beans. Usually, famous actors and Sumo wrestlers join to scatter beans. Last year, Yokozuna ( Sumo grand champion) Hakuho and famous Kabuki actor Ichikawa Ebizo scattered beans.

If you have a chance to be around to Tokyo on the day of Setsubun, you can join to get beans. But you need to make reservation to get ticket to enter. It doesn’t cost any money to just get beans. If you want to join scatter beans and get Goma-prayer, the fee is 10,000 yen.

Access to Mt. Narita

I recommend you to take public transit to get Mt. Narita on Setsubun Festibal day because it is very crowded and hard to get there by car.

10 minutes walk from “Keisei Narita Station” or “JR Narita Station”

About 65 minutes from Ueno by limited express train
About 8 minutes from Narita International Airport by limited express train

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