[VIDEO] What is that clapping thing? The Tori-no-Ichi Fair at Asakusa

[VIDEO] What is that clapping thing? The Tori-no-Ichi Fair at Asakusa

Held in the heart of the tourist hotspot of Asakusa, the Tori-no-Ichi fair is one of the most famous open-air markets in the month of November. It is held on all days of the rooster that fall in November, which means that the event can occur up to three times in a single month!

However, the first day of the rooster in November is considered the most important and it is when all the locals come out to celebrate, eat some of the local snacks from food carts, and buy special “rakes!”

The Very First Fair Begins at Midnight

The Very First Fair Begins at Midnight

Unlike other festivals, the Tori-no-Ichi fair begins at the stroke of midnight! So, if you want to experience it fully, you need to stay late into the night!

So, what exactly is “Tori-no-Ichi” celebrating? Well it dates back to the Edo era and originally started from an old fair where the Ohtori Shrine is currently located. It was celebrated as “The Harvest Festival of Hanamata Washidaimyojin” by the local people. In order to give thanks to Hanamata Washidaimyojin, the people collected and released roosters in front of Senso-ji in Asakusa.

Eventually the festival moved to its current location at Ohtori shrine, and people came for a very special and unique charm. This charm was renowned for bringing good luck, health, and business and came in the shape of a rake! Believed as a way to literally “rake in your luck”, these rakes are specially decorated in a variety of ways.

In the old days of the Edo era, the rakes of the Tori-no-Ichi fair were decorated with simple grains of rice, however these days, the bamboo rakes are very elaborate and come in a huge variety of shapes, sizes, themes, and extravagance!

 Cute Rakes Decorate Your Rooms!?

 Cute Rakes Decorate Your Rooms!?

It isn’t uncommon to find anime characters, cats, treasure chests, fans, and more on the rakes sold at the Tori-no-Ichi fair these days. In fact, you can enjoy the atmosphere of the festival along with the many shops in the area. Overall there are over 100 shops in the area to choose from in the small and linked alleys at the Ohtori Shrine.

How much the rakes are?

How much the rakes are?

Rakes usually start off at around 2,500 yen for a small one, but some of the HUGE ones (up to 4 meters tall) can go for thousands and thousands of yen! These ones are usually reserved for companies and are sold out within the first hours of the festival.

If you plan on picking up a rake for yourself or family, there is a special catch that you should definitely know about! There is an old tradition for the Tori-no-Ichi fair that has gone on for generations.

Once you decide on a specific rake to buy, you begin the deal by haggling down the price with the shop owner. Going back and forth helps liven up the atmosphere and brightens the mood. So, if a rake has a set price of 10,000 yen, you can ask the shop owner to lower it to 6,000 yen. After a few back and forth haggling, let’s say you settle for the price of 8,000 yen. Now here comes the most important part! Pay the original amount of 10,000 yen, and when the shop owner tries to give you your change of 2,000 yen, refuse and give it back to the shop keep and tell them it is a gift!

This is a tradition that is looked very favorably upon by the shop owners and locals in the area and helps to express thanks to both the shop owners and the fair! If you think you are done though, you might be wrong because the shop owners will express their thanks for your generosity with a very unique display that can be heard all around the Tori-no-Ichi fair!

The Excitement Comes When You Pay to Buy it

The Excitement Comes When You Pay to Buy it

The entire shop staff will gather around you at this point and begin to clap to a unique rhythm to bless you with good luck, business, health, and more! This is what makes the Tori-no-Ichi fair so exciting! Instead of just visiting the shrine for a little bit, you get to participate in traditions that are hundreds of years old!

The Excitement Comes When You Pay to Buy it

Food Amusement in The Temples or The Shrines

To top it off, if you start to get hungry, there are many food stalls littered in the back alleys near the fair along with specialty foods that can only be found at the festival. These items include the popular “Tou no Imo” (Steamed Taro) and the “Kirizansho” (Special Japanese Cake). These food items can be found near the entrance and were sold to people who hope to become successful with business matters and money!

Food Amusement in The Temples or The Shrines

When in 2017?

If you plan on visiting the Tori-no-Ichi this month (November 2017), then the first day of the Rooster will be held on November 6th, 2017. The event lasts a full 24 hours once the clock strikes midnight, but we highly recommend that you go there when it starts at midnight, because that is the most exciting that it gets! Other days in November when the festival will be held are November 18th, and November 30th. The first day of the festival is the most exciting so make sure to check it out!

Here is the video you definitely want to watch!


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