Event

Experience Tori-no-Ichi: A November Festival of Japanese Tradition

Hello, this is Miki from JP-Expert.
A few days ago, Tori-no-Ichi was held at a shrine near my home.
Tori-no-Ichi takes place not only in my town but at many shrines throughout Tokyo every November.
The festival in my neighborhood is quite small, but it’s so beautiful that I wanted to share it with all of you.

Have you ever seen a kumade displayed on the wall of a Japanese restaurant?Kumade are displayed not only in restaurants but in many kinds of businesses, so travelers will likely spot them in places other than restaurants as well.
These decorative rakes are believed to “gather in” good fortune and prosperity.

A large kumade like the one in the photo costs around 100,000 yen, while smaller ones can be purchased for as little as about 1,500 yen.
Shop owners buy a new kumade every year at Tori-no-Ichi, which is held in November.
The larger the kumade, the higher its price—and many owners set a goal of purchasing a bigger one than they bought the previous year.

One of the most wonderful things about the Tori-no-Ichi festival is the lively sanbon-jime—a rhythmic triple clap with cheerful chants—that the vendors perform when someone purchases a kumade.
One shop owner after another comes to buy a kumade, and the clapping and calls of good luck continue without pause.

It’s not only the beautiful scenery that makes this festival special, but also the continuous sound of people wishing for prosperity.
This atmosphere—filled with hope, energy, and good fortune—is truly delightful.

Tori-no-Ichi is held two or sometimes three times every November.
If you plan to visit Tokyo in November 2026, I highly recommend stopping by one of these festivals.

For example, the Asakusa Tori-no-Ichi is open for a full 24 hours—from midnight to midnight—on each Tori day in November.
It sounds unbelievable, doesn’t it?

Because it gets extremely crowded, I personally prefer the smaller Tori-no-Ichi festivals held at neighborhood shrines.
But the excitement and energy at the Asakusa festival are truly extraordinary.