Asakusa Tori-no-ichi 2025] Let's bring in good fortune at Tori-no-ichi, a lively autumn festival!

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Lucky rakes at Asakusa Tori-no-ichi (Courtesy of TAITO Outing Navi)

What is Asakusa Tori-no-ichi, a festival to wish for good luck?

Torinoichi is a festival held every year on the day of the rooster in November at Tori-ji Temple in Asakusa, and at shrines related to birds such as Otori Shrine and Otori Shrine in various locations, to wish for "good luck and prosperity" and "business prosperity.

The first rooster day is called "Ichi-no-Tori", followed by "Ni-no-Tori" and "San-no-Tori" every 12 days thereafter.
In 2025, "Ichi-no-Tori" will be held twice, on November 12 (Wednesday) and "Ni-no-Tori" on November 24 (Monday), which is a substitute holiday.

Rooster fairs are held in various locations around the Kanto region. This time we would like to introduce "Asakusa Torinoichi," which boasts a long history among such rooster fairs.

Otori Shrine and Chokokuji Temple in Asakusa

Asakusa, Washi-jinja Shrine during Tori-no-ichi (Courtesy of TAITO Otsukake Navi)
Most rooster fairs are held only at shrines, but the Asakusa Rooster Fair is unusual in that it is held at a temple and a shrine next to each other.
Therefore, it is unique in that it has different Buddhist and Shinto theories for its origin. According to the Shinto theory, there are several theories that the origin of the shrine is Yamatotakeru no Mikoto (Prince Yamatotakeru of Japan). According to the Buddhist theory, the guardian deity is the Great Eagle Myoken Bosatsu (Great Bodhisattva), who is affectionately called "Otorisama" because of his figure standing on the back of an eagle.

At Asakusa Tori-noichi, you can ask for blessings from both the deity Otorisama and the Buddha Otorisama, so why not visit both Chokokuji Temple and Washi-jinja Shrine for a tour of good fortune when you visit the festival?
　The inner sanctum of the main hall during the Tori-no-ichi (Courtesy of Chokokuji Facebook)
The Gokaicho will be opened at midnight on the day the rooster market is held. If you are interested, please take this opportunity to visit.

A colorful symbol of the festival! What is a lucky rake?

Lucky rakes adorn the festival (Courtesy of TAITO Otsukake Navi)
Asakusa, the rooster market is known for its brightly colored lucky rakes!
At each of the stores lining the premises of Chokokuji Temple, the temple of the rooster, craftsmen sell elaborately decorated lucky rakes. Each is elaborately decorated, and just looking at them you can feel the festive atmosphere of the festival. Please take your time to look around and find your favorite one.

The rake has long been considered a good-luck charm, and its origin can be traced back to the eagle's talons. Originally, rakes were farming tools, but they are said to bring good luck because of their resemblance to an eagle's talons, which are said to catch prey and bring luck.
A large bear displayed at the gate of Washi-jinja Shrine (Courtesy of TAITO Otsukake Navi)
When you visit the festival, be sure to see the Okumate (big rake) displayed at the gates and lobbies of both Chokokuji Temple and Washi-jinja Shrine.

The Okuma-te, filled with craftsmanship, is the face of Asakusa's Tori-no-michi. The large ornaments and well-balanced arrangement of the Okumade are completely different from those of ordinary lucky rakes and are sure to overwhelm you!
The Okuma hand displayed at Ueno Station last year (courtesy: JR East, Ueno Station)
Every year during the "Tori-no-ichi" (rooster market), a large bear appears with a bang near the central ticket gate of Ueno Station.
It is large, colorful, and powerful when you look up close.
In 2025, it is scheduled to be displayed on Sunday, October 19, so if you have a chance to use Ueno Station, be sure to look for it.

How to enjoy Asakusa Tori-no-ichi

A slightly different kind of fortune at Chokokuji, the temple of the rooster, only available at Tori-no-ichi

Drawing fortunes (courtesy of Chokokuji Facebook)
If you have a chance to visit Ueno Station, please look for it. On the day of Tori-noichi only, you can have a monk chant a prayer in front of you while you shake out the omikuji fortune. The monk will only be able to offer the omikuji at certain times of the day, so it is up to your luck whether you can see him or not! It seems to be more beneficial than if you shake out the omikuji yourself.

The prayer is said to have the meaning of "repel evil, bring happiness, purge all difficulties, and make wishes come true.

It is very popular and lines form quickly, so please come with plenty of time to spare.

After praying, eat lucky gourmet foods to fill up your stomach and boost your luck!

Speaking of festivals, food stalls are the best place to eat!
At Torinoichi, the back streets are very crowded with food stalls, izakaya (Japanese-style pubs), and long-established downtown restaurants setting up temporary stalls here and there.

Among them, we recommend "Kashira no imo" (sweet potato) and "Kirizansho" (sweet pepper paste), which are the festival's special gourmet delicacies that bring good luck and bring prosperity to business.

Kashira" is a type of taro called yatsutogashira, which is a good-luck charm that when eaten, one will "rise in the world" as if standing on a person's head, and "will be blessed with children" as many sprouts come out from one potato. Today, there is only one stall selling "head potato," so it is a rare item that can only be found here at a food stall.

Kirisansho, a specialty of the rooster market, is a slightly sweet, soft-tasting snack with a refreshing aroma of sansho (Japanese pepper). It is packaged in a cute package with a picture of Okame-san's rake, making it a perfect souvenir!

After praying to Otori-sama for blessings, why not eat the head sweet potato and the cut sansho, lucky charms that bring good fortune, and wish for good things to happen to you?

A lucky charm that will remain as a memory even after the festival!

Kakkome Kumate protection (Courtesy of Chokokuji Facebook)
Chokokuji Temple sells a rake charm called "Kakkome Kumate Mamori" in addition to the common good luck charms sold at other temples and shrines.
It is a cute amulet with an ear of rice attached to a small rake. You will surely have good luck by getting "Kakkome Kumate-mamori", which has not changed since the Edo period⁉
Asakusa "Tori-no-ichi" official website is here

Combine your favorite train with lodging or a day trip plan for a great travel experience!

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