Mt Takao Setsubun

Held around February 2 each year, Setsubun celebrates the coming of spring with a bean throwing ritual to ward off evil spirits and bring in good fortune. Those who are born under the Japanese zodiac sign of the current year, snake, are invited to throw beans from the Main Hall at Yakuo-in Temple towards the crowd, alongside sumo wrestlers, actors and singers from 7.30am to 2.30pm. A goma fire ritual is held before the main event to purify those throwing the beans and rid them of evil spirits.