Setsbun Festival in Osaka [O-sushi’s Travels]

Setsubun Festival in early February

In the lunar calendar, Setsubun is a day when the spring begins. People believe that “Oni”, Japanese demons appear and attack them on Setsubun night👹. There are mainly two ways to dispel them.

① One is throwing soybeans to them. (It sounds funny that a soybean can become a weapon)

② The other is disguising as something or someone else so that demons won’t notice who they are and people can let them go.

People also perform the rite to play for health, good luck, business success, and so on.

Unique Setsubun festival in Osaka Kita-Shinchi district

Kita-Shinchi is a district close to JR Osaka station, with lots of entertainment such as restaurants, bars, cafés, and also lots of hostess bars🍶😎💕. The Setsubun festival called “Omizukumi” is pretty unique and I highly recommend you go see it if you are in Japan that season. Scroll down to see photos and a video so you can get image of the festival.

⬇︎ONI appear! They look scary but they are super friendly actually😍. They make a pose for you if you point a camera to them📷.

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⬇︎This round architecture looks like a UFO🛸 from the space, but it is a temple as you can see the inside of it in the second photo. The origin of the temple is Yakushiji temple in Nara prefecture. The monks from Yakushiji temple come here to perform the rites.

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⬇︎Setsubun festival in a nutshell (Click to see the video)

⬇︎People dressing up in costumes. It’s literally a Japanese Halloween. The idea to dispel bad luck and Demons is also alike.

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⬇︎Kita-Shinchi Queen in the parade

⬇︎The most gorgeous couple of the day!!

⬇︎A stray cat🐈 contemplating the people and the whole events.

Travel Tips

Schedule of Omizukumi (February 1, 2019)

14:15 Buddhist service at Dojima Yakushido hall

14:30 Demon’s roaming in town

15:00 Sacred Water Pumping at Dojima Yakushido hall

17:00 Sake Distribution at Dojima Avanza Building

17:30 Buddhist service at Dojima Yakushido hall

17:30 Setsubun Show at Dojima Avanza Building 1F

(Performance of traditional music and dance)

18:00 Buddhist Fire Ritual

18:30 Setsubun Parade on the street in Kita-Shinchi area

19:00 Treat of sweet red-bean soup

Omizukumi, the Setsubun festival in Kita-Shinchi is scheduled around the 3rd of February every year, but the exact date depends on the year. Google with “Omizukumi”, then you’ll find out exactly when. The website is probably in Japanese only. You can contact me if you want to know the date!!!

Writer: Omotena Sushi (A shrimp sushi who loves travelling)