Nara Setsubun

Setsubun is the day before the beginning of each season, but historically usually refers to the Spring season because after the winter this was kind of thought as the beginning of a new year and therefore an important day to celebrate and pray for good luck.

It’s usually celebrated all over Japan by throwing beans (mame-beans) at each other and shouting “Oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi” (Demons out, Luck in!). The Kasuga Taisha in Nara however celebrates Setsubun a bit different than most others by lighting up 1,000 lanterns and without any throwing of beans and shouting.

 

Transport: From Kintetsu Nara Train Station you can walk or take a bus.

Website: The Kasuga Taisha website has information in Japanese.