At most temples the chant is “demons out, fortune in”. At Naritasan they only say the second half.
Overview
Naritasan Shinshoji is a major Shingon temple ten minutes from Narita Airport, and its Setsubun-e is one of the best-known bean-throwing rites in Japan. Grand sumo wrestlers and the cast of that year’s NHK historical drama appear as toshiotoko, in formal kamishimo, and throw beans from a stage in front of the Great Main Hall.
The temple omits “oni wa soto” – demons out – because its deity Fudo Myoo is held to reform demons rather than expel them. Only “fuku wa uchi” is called.
When and where
Setsubun-e falls on 3 February every year, so in 2027 that is Wednesday 3 February. The special bean-throwing ceremony is held three times during the day, with the general Kaiun Mamemaki at 09:30, 12:30 and 15:00.
Traffic control operates around the temple on the day; the approach from Narita Station is closed to cars.
Getting there
Naritasan is a ten-minute walk from JR Narita or Keisei Narita station, and both are about ten minutes by train from Narita Airport. This makes it one of the easiest major festivals in Japan to attach to an arrival or departure day.
What to expect
Two very different formats on the same day.
- The special tsuina ceremony with sumo wrestlers and taiga drama actors, three times during the day
- Kaiun Mamemaki, open to anyone who registers, at 09:30, 12:30 and 15:00
- Participation in the open ceremony costs 10,000 yen, with 100 places per session
- A goma fire rite before the throwing, and beans scattered before the Fudo Myoo image
- The temple’s Omotesando approach, lined with eel restaurants, for lunch afterwards
Tickets and admission
Watching is free. Taking part in the Kaiun Mamemaki costs 10,000 yen per person, arranged at the temple’s reception in Korinkaku, which lends the participant’s haori. Numbers are limited to 100 per session.
Tips for visitors
Get to the courtyard well before the special ceremony if you want to catch beans – the crowd is deep by then. Narita’s Omotesando is at its best in the hour after the rites, when the eel restaurants are busy but not full. February in Chiba is cold but dry, and standing still for an hour is the main challenge.
Access and map
| Dates | 3 February 2027 |
|---|---|
| Venue | Naritasan Shinshoji, Narita, Chiba |
| Access | JR or Keisei Narita station, 10 minutes on foot |
| Admission | Free to watch; 10,000 yen to take part in the open bean-throwing |
| Official site | Chiba Prefecture tourism (Maruchiba) |
Source: Maruchiba, Chiba Prefecture official tourism site
Image: Photo: Guilhem Vellut from Annecy, France / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
