Hagoita-ichi (Battledore Fair) / Osame no Kannon Festival Day

Hagoita-ichi (Battledore Fair) / Osame no Kannon Festival Day

A beloved seasonal tradition that brightens Senso-ji Temple at the end of the year is the Hagoita-ichi (Battledore Fair), held on the temple grounds. This year, for three days from December 17 to 19, stalls selling lucky hagoita battledores will line the grounds. The sight of colorful oshie (padded-fabric relief) hagoita on display adds the festive splendor that is typical of Asakusa in December.

The Hagoita-ichi is a traditional event that has continued since the Edo period, and the custom of buying a hagoita as a New Year decoration is still carried on today. From decorative hagoita modeled on kabuki actors and people in the news, to traditional designs celebrating a child's first New Year, part of the fair's charm is that it is enjoyable just to stroll and look.

Also on the 18th, the "Osame no Kannon Festival Day" (the final Kannon festival day of the year) will be held. Fitting for the close of the year, many worshippers come to offer their thanks to Kannon. Lively calls from shoppers choosing their hagoita mingle with worshippers quietly pressing their hands together in prayer within the same grounds, a scene unique to this time of year.

At night, the illuminated grounds are enveloped in a magical atmosphere and show a different face from the daytime. The fair lasts only three days, but that makes for an especially lively atmosphere amid the hustle and bustle of the year's end.

As the cold deepens, why not dress warmly and come to savor Asakusa's winter tradition at a leisurely pace? Picking up a lucky hagoita is also a great way to prepare for welcoming the new year.