Tori-no-ichi is an annual traditional festival held at shrines and temples nationwide on three separate days (rooster days) in November to wish for good luck and prosperity in business.
What happens?
The festival has been held in the Asakusa area since the Edo period at Ōtori Shrine and Chōkokuji Temple. The festivity occurs from midnight to midnight with kumade (rakes decorated with gold and silver) sold by lively vendors in the shrine and temple compound. You can make your wish for good luck while enjoying the atmosphere of Tokyo’s old downtown at this late fall/early winter event.
This is the third and final part of the festival. There’s also:
Read our Tori no Ichi article for a more in depth look at the festival.
Schedule 2024
Taiko drumming will signal the start of the event at midnight (the night of November 28). There will also be a ritual on Nov. 28 from 11:15 p.m. and Nov. 29 from 1 p.m. but you’ll need to register to watch. Other festivities — such as walking through the market — don’t need prior reservations.
What to buy
At this fair, the main item being peddled is the kumade, a decorative bamboo rake that’s said to, well, rake in good luck. While elaborate ones can cost hundreds of thousands of yen (don’t worry, if you can’t buy the gorgeous ones, you can still take pictures of them), you can get simpler, smaller ones for ¥1,000 to ¥2,000. For every purchase, merchants will perform a clapping ritual for good fortune.
Also, be sure to sink your teeth into some of the tasty food on offer. We recommend the old-school sweets — and, as always, just about anything on a stick (except maybe those chocolate bananas with the eyes).
Organizers may cancel events, alter schedules, or change admission requirements without notice. Always check official sites before heading to an event.
