Setsubun 節分 2025

Setsubun is a Japanese festival celebrated February 3rd, but it's not a public holiday so this year the festival was on a Sunday, Feb 2nd! Last year, we went to Himeji Shrine and Sosha Shrine. This year we were invited to Tatsuno for their own local festival to celebrate the beginning of spring. They had a bonfire where you could make a wish and toss in a wooden stick as you walked around the bonfire. After the fire was put out the logs and ashes were spread out and people could line up for a brief fire walk. The event ended with enough time to actually make it to Sosha shrine for their bean throwing. We didn't think we'd be able to do both events so it was nice that it worked out! Afterwards we were able to grab a delicious sukiyaki dinner with friends!