[Saitama ]3 temples and shrines where you can enjoy a unique bean-throwing ceremony on Setsubun day.
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2023-01-23
On Setsubun day, February 3 every year, bean-throwing ceremonies are held at temples and shrines throughout Japan. Saitama Prefecture also holds such events, and we will introduce three of them: Kawagoe Kita-in Temple, Naritasan Kawagoe Betsuin Temple, and Onijin Shrine, where beans are thrown with a unique call. If you time it right, you can participate in two bean-throwing ceremonies in one day at two temples in Kawagoe City.
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Table of Contents
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- 1-1.1-2.1-3.1-4.2.
- 2-1.2-2.2-3.2-4.3.
- 3-1.3-2.
Kawagoe Daishi Kita-in's Setsubun-kai overflowing with the romance of a long history
A Tendai sect temple founded in the Heian period and dedicated to Jiei Daishi
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Kawagoe Daishi Kita-in Temple is a Tendai sect temple built in Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture. It is said to have been founded by Jikaku Daishi Ennin in 830 during the Heian period. Later, in 1205 during the Kamakura period (1185-1333), the temple was damaged by fire, but was restored by the order of Emperor Fushimi, enshrining Jiei Daishi (Gansan Daishi).
A building with a long sense of history since its foundation
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Surrounding the Jie-do Hall in the center of the temple grounds are numerous halls, including the Daboto, Jigen-do Hall, Sanmon Gate, Belfry Gate, Toshogu Shrine, and Hie Shrine. The oldest existing structure in the temple, the Sanmon, a four-pillar shikyakumon, was built in 1632 by Tenkai Sojo, a priest who had a close friendship with Tokugawa Ieyasu and was influential in policy making in the early days of the Edo shogunate.
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In addition, a separate building of Momijiyama from Edo Castle has been moved to the temple grounds as a guest house, shoin (study room), and kori (storeroom). The Kyakuden is an 8-ken (girigayuki), 5-ken (harima) irimoya-style building with a kokerabuki-style roof. In the upper room, the birth room of Tokugawa Iemitsu, the third shogun of the Edo Shogunate, is preserved. The Shoin, which is connected to the Kyakuden, is a hipped-roofed building with a girder length of 6 ken and a beam length of 5 ken, and has a persimmon-thatched roof. Inside the shoin is a room used by Kasuga-no-tsuboto, the nanny of Tokugawa Iemitsu, which is open to the public as the Kasuga-no-keshi-no-ma (Kasuga-no-keshi make-up room). The temple is filled with the romance of its long history since its foundation. The temple is one of the most popular places for Hatsumode (New Year's visits) in the prefecture, attracting about 400,000 visitors every year during the Hatsumode season.
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Jikei Daishi was the 18th Tendai Zashu during the Heian period (794-1185), and he celebrated his nirvana on January 3. Setsubun day falls on the day of his nirvana, which is a month later than the other days of the month. Every year, a bean-throwing ceremony is held after the prayers as Setsubun-kai.
Mamemaki (bean throwing) usually starts at 1:20 p.m. on February 3
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The venue for the bean-throwing ceremony is in front of Jieido. A special bean-throwing stand several meters high will be erected.
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The bean-throwing ceremony usually begins around 1:20 p.m. each year. After the goma prayer for good luck and protection from bad luck at Jieido, new year's men and women head to the bean-throwing stand with a square full of beans in their hands. Usually, there are about 100 people dressed in kamishimo (ceremonial kimono).
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At the appointed time, the beans are scattered all at once from the platform toward the temple grounds. The priest's clothes and virtues are then distributed to the worshippers as if they were beans.
Bean-throwing calls are made in honor of the ogres, calling out the phrase "Fukuro wa uchi "
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Generally, the call for the bean-throwing ceremony is "Oni wa soto, Fuku wa uchi ". However, at Kawagoe Daishi Kita-in Temple, it is a little different. "Only the phrase "Fuku wa uchi "" is called repeatedly. At Kawagoe Daishi Kita-in Temple, demons are regarded as one of the Buddhas that protect Buddhism. It is also believed that demons are Buddha transformed to awaken the evil mind. Therefore, "demons do not chant outside "
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Jiedaishi, also known as Tsunodaishi, is an omenshi, or demon-like figure, who is depicted as a demon to ward off evil spirits, and is distributed at the awarding office inside Jiedo.
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"When the bean-throwing ceremony is held with the call of "Fuku wa uchi "," visitors fill every space in front of the bean-throwing stand, stretching their arms high in the hopes of getting more beans.
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If you did not get as many lucky beans as you would have liked at the bean-throwing ceremony, you can purchase lucky squares at the awarding office.
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Every year, on Setsubun day, Kawagoe Daishi Kita-in Temple is crowded with many people. Various types of stalls line the temple grounds.
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Kawagoe Daishi's specialty, dango (dumplings to ward off evil spirits), are also available for sale, so you may expect further blessings.
"Facility Information "
Facility Name Kawagoe Daishi Kita-in Temple (Kawagoe Taishiki Taishin Temple)
Address: 1-20-1 Kosenba-cho, Kawagoe-shi, Saitama
Phone number 049-222-0859
Access Tobu Tojo Line and JR Kawagoe Line "Kawagoe Station about 20 minutes on foot from ", Tobu Tojo Line "Kawagoe-shi Station about 18 minutes on foot from ", Seibu Shinjuku Line "Honkawagoe Station about 15 minutes on foot from "
Official website https://kitain.net/
Usual start time and date of Setsubun Mamemaki (bean-throwing ceremony) around 1:20 p.m. on Feb. 3
Narita-san Kawagoe Betsuin where bean-throwing ceremonies are held twice on Setsubun day
Naritasan Kawagoe Betsuin, a branch temple of Naritasan Shinshoji Temple, popularly known as Kawagoe Fudo
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Naritasan Kawagoe Betsuin is a temple of the Chizan school of the Shingon sect, built in Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture. It was founded in 1853 at the end of the Edo period (1603-1868) by Sho-on Ishikawa, who restored Kubo-cho Hongyo-in Temple, which had been closed down. It is a branch temple of Naritasan Shinshoji Temple in Narita City, Chiba Prefecture, and is known as Kawagoe Fudo.
Mamemaki (bean-throwing ceremony) held twice a year on February 3 at 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.
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The Setsubun Festival is held every year on February 3 at the Naritasan Kawagoe Betsuin Temple. At 13:00 and 15:00, beans are thrown from a special 20-meter-long stage set up in front of the main hall.
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At the appointed time, a bell is rung, and a Yamabushi (a mountain priest) appears on a bean-throwing stand, blowing a conch shell.
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Following the Yamabushi, the New Year's men who attended the Tsuina Ceremony in the main hall appear in kamishimo (ceremonial dress).
The call for bean-throwing is based on the belief that even demons will be converted by mercy. "The phrase "Fuku wa uchi "" is used repeatedly.
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After the performance of the conch shell, the bean-throwing ceremony begins. Like Kawagoe Daishi Kita-in Temple, Naritasan Kawagoe Betsuin Temple chants only "Fuku wa uchi ". "The reason why they do not chant "Oni wa sotoi "" (ogres are outside) is because "it is believed that in front of the main deity, Fudo Myoo, even ogres will be converted by his mercy ".
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At the Naritasan Kawagoe Betsuin's bean-throwing ceremony, rice cakes and sweets are thrown along with small bags of fukumame (lucky beans). Most popular are the fukumame with winning tickets attached, which are tossed in the air. In addition to the fukumame, you may be able to win a travel voucher, electronics, or other blessed treasure.
Time adjusted to participate in two bean-throwing ceremonies in one day at two temples
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Furthermore, there is a significant feature due to the location of the temple. The Narita-san Kawagoe Betsuin is located approximately 200 meters north of Kawagoe Daishi Kita-in Temple. Moreover, the approach to Kawagoe Daishi Kita-in connects the two temples, making access to both temples excellent. The bean-throwing ceremony starts around 1:20 p.m. at Kawagoe Daishi Kita-in Temple and twice around 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. at Naritasan Kawagoe Betsuin Temple. Therefore, if you go to Kawagoe Daishi Kita-in around 13:20 and Naritasan Kawagoe-betsuin around 15:00, you can participate in two bean-throwing ceremonies in half a day.
"Facility Information "
Facility Name Narita-san Kawagoe-betsuin (Narita-san Kawagoe-betsuin)
Address: 9-2 Kubo-cho, Kawagoe-shi, Saitama
Phone number 049-222-0173
Access Approximately 20 minutes on foot from "Kawagoe Station "on the Tobu Tojo Line and JR Line, Approximately 20 minutes on foot from "Honkawagoe Station "on the Seibu Shinjuku Line
Official website https://kawagoe-naritasan.or.jp/
Usual start time and date of Setsubun Bean-throwing: around 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. on February 3
Onijin shrine where red and blue demons stand side by side to sow beans
"Onijinjinja Shrine, which enshrines the demon "as a god.
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Onijin Shrine is located approximately 800 meters northeast of Musashiarashiyama Station, about 30 minutes from Kawagoe Station on the Tobu Tojo Line. It is said to have been built to ward off evil spirits at the demon's gate.
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Since shrines are ritual facilities based on Shinto beliefs, it is common to enshrine deities that appear in myths, gods of production, heavenly deities, and great men. However, at Onijin Shrine, surprisingly, "demons "are enshrined as deities. There are "Onijinsha "in Aomori, Oita, Fukuoka, and other prefectures that worship ogres, but in the Kanto region, Onijinsha is the only shrine that enshrines ogres. "Oni "is often used as a synonym for evil or frightening, but it can also symbolize strength. For this reason, it has long been revered as a god of victory by warlords and soldiers. On a plaque in the front of the main shrine, the red and blue demons are depicted side by side, flanked on both sides by the letters of the shrine's name.
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On the roof tiles of the main hall, tiles with demon masks are lined up above and below. Kinbou (gold bars) are also prepared next to the money box. It may be a strange sight to see gold bars, which are considered torture instruments of hell, lined up in the shrine, but it is exactly the full power of "Oni ni Kinbou ". At the shrine office, stick-shaped "Oni ni Kinbo "protections and amulets embroidered with red and blue demons are also distributed.
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Oni (ogres) praying for victory and success are lined up on the emakake (votive tablet). Many athletes and students preparing for entrance exams visit the shrine to pray for luck in winning.
The call for bean-throwing is "Fuku wa uchi, Oni wa uchi, Akuma soto "
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Onijin Shrine usually holds a Setsubun Festival bean-throwing ceremony around 3:00 p.m. on February 3. A special stage is set up in the precincts north of the main shrine building. Since Onijin Shrine is a shrine that enshrines "Oni ", we cannot say "Oni wa soto "even during the bean-throwing ceremony. Therefore, the call has become "Fuku wa uchi, Oni wa uchi, Demon Soto ". It may be thought that the god of victory must be within to be strong.
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Not only lucky beans, but also dumplings, sweets, and other items are thrown, offering a rich variety.
Red and blue ogres scattering beans
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The New Year's men are the main bean-throwers on a special stage, but you will also see red and blue demons mixed in with them. The Onijin Shrine is the only place where you can see the ogres throwing the beans. The lucky beans that the ogres throw must bring double the luck of victory.
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After the bean-throwing ceremony is over, the red and blue demons will line up in front of the main shrine so that you can take a commemorative photo with them. A two-shot with the demons at the shrine will surely be a good memory.
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When the Setsubun Festival is held, the shrine is crowded with many people. It is not unusual for the local media to visit the shrine to cover the event. In 2023, however, the Setsubun Festival will be scaled back. The bean-throwing ceremony will be conducted by the head priest, and unfortunately, the red and blue demons will not be seen at the festival.
"Facility Information "
Facility Name Kijin Shrine
Address: 1898 Kawashima, Ranzan-cho, Hiki-gun, Saitama
Phone number 0493-62-2131
Access 15 min. walk from Tobu Tojo Line "Musashiarashiyama Station "
Official website https://www.ranzan-kanko.jp/kidinjinja
Usual start time and date of Setsubun Bean-throwing around 15:00 on Feb. 3
summary
We have introduced three temples and shrines where bean-throwing ceremonies are usually held in Saitama Prefecture on Setsubun day, February 3 every year. "All of the temples and shrines do not use the phrase "Oni wa soto, Fuku wa uchi "in the general "Oni wa soto, Fuku wa uchi phrase. Not only that, at Onijin shrine, you can see demons throwing beans, and there seems to be a variety of ways to enjoy Setsubun.
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