The Best Setsubun Destination in the World
All about soybeans and the Azabu neighborhood of Tokyo
It’s February 3, officially Setsubun(節分) in Japan. A sushi roll called Ehoumaki(恵方巻) that’s available only on this day and soybeans are in full swing at supermarkets and department stores.
Traditionally, male heads of households wear ogre-shaped paper masks and become a target of family members who throw soybeans at the ogre mercilessly, wishing to drive away all the bad fortune and welcome in good luck.
If you want to attend a big soybean-throwing event, you can visit Naritasan in Chiba prefecture, but what I recommend doing on Setsubun day, or just before the day is to get soybeans at a store named Mamegen in the Azabu area of Tokyo.
The store is always filled with people from tourists to locals. Inside the shop, there’s a small open kitchen area, and you can buy fresh cooked rice crackers and soybeans there.
