"Setsubun" and Plum Blossoms

On Februery 3rd, the "Setsubun Festival" will be held in many shrines in Japan.
"Setsubun" is the day before beginning of spring according to the lunar calender, literally means "the day between two seasons".

Here in Misaki-jinja Shrine, the shrine priest throw beans hoping for a good fortune and drive away an evil spirit.

Under the shrine building, many people reach their hands to catch those beans which are their lucky fortune and happiness for this year.

In the middle of February, the plum trees start blooming and we Japanese realize that spring is coming very close.This is Yushima-Tenjin Shrine which will hold its annual plum-blossom festival from February to March.

You can enjoy many colors of plum-blossoms.

Also, Koishikawa Korakuen, one of the surviving edo period garden in Tokyo, is very famous for plum-blossoms.

Yushima-Tenjin Shrine

Around 30min. walk from the Hotel

Koshikawa Korakuen

Around 15min. walk from the Hotel

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