People scatter beans to the ground while shout the phrase of “out with the demon, in with fortune.”
Anyone who wish to participate as the beans-scattering staff is welcomed to contact us.

What is the End of Year Festival (Setsubun)?…

Nowadays, people tend to think the Setsubun Festival means the the day before of the beginning of spring. However, the word Setsubun originally means the day before each beginning day of the four seasons of Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. In other words, originally there were four Setsubun Festivals every year.

Because the day of beginning of Spring is the beginning of one year in the old calendar (New Year holidays), the Setsubun Festival (these days also called Omisoka, means the last day of one year) hold before the beginning day of Spring is regarded as a important festival.

On the day of Setsubun, people regardless of their ages and genders together taking part in the bean-scattering ceremony (throw beans to the ground) while shouting the phrase of “out with the demon, in with fortune”, believing that this ceremony has the power to drive out the evil spirits.

It was said that this traditional custom was originally brought from China in the Muromachi era, called “Tsuina” or “Oniyarai” in the past, and was only hold as an annual event at the Imperial Court.

After that, it gradually became a custom for the ordinary people to greet the New Year and get rid of the evil spirits.

Date: Monday, February 3, 2014
Open Hours: From 11:00 a.m. religious services and the bean-scattering ceremony
Place Gosho-jinja Shrine (359-1, Miyashita, Yugawara-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa, Japan)

※ 10-minute walk from Yugawara Station. Take a bus for Okuyugawara or Fudou-taki, and get off at the Gosho-jinja Shrine bus stop (approximately three minutes)
Inquiry: (Corp.) Yugawara Onsen Tourist Association TEL: 0465-64-1234
Bean-scattering ceremony staff now on recruiting.
number of staffs: 15 (application first-come-first-served basis)
Participation fee: 10,000 yen (I include prayer charges, God bill, votive offering, old ceremonial dress charges and group photos)

※ Child under the age of elementary school: 5,000 yen (there is not the old ceremonial dress)
Please pay the participation fees on the day at a reception desk.
Schedule

10:00: Gosho-jinja Shrine reception desk, meeting old ceremonial dress dressing
10:40: Religious services (main shrine)
11:00: Ceremony of driving out the devils type (specially installed stage)
11:10: The bean-scattering ceremony (finished as soon as bean disappears)

※ Please make sure the info you see is the latest in advance.