Every November, the Tori-no-Ichi festival is held at Ohtori Shrine in Yokohama Japan.
This area already has a lively atmosphere, thanks to the nearby shopping streets, but during the festival, the energy is on a whole new level! The roads are closed off, and food stalls line the streets.
Our family hadn’t been going out much recently because my oldest son has been preparing for his high school entrance exams. We wanted him to focus on studying. Now that his exams are over, we’re thrilled to finally go out as a family again!
We’re looking forward to enjoying the festive atmosphere and exploring the food stalls.
The Tori-no-Ichi festival has three main areas:
Food and toy stalls
Stalls selling kumade (decorative bamboo rakes for good luck)
The shrine, where people pray for business prosperity
Since it was almost noon, we started to feel hungry. So, we decided to check out the food stalls first.
The main road was packed with people, so we thought about taking a side street. But even there, the crowds were incredible!
The delicious smell of food was everywhere. We saw hashimaki (a thin pancake wrapped around chopsticks) freshly cooked at one stall and decided to try it.
We found a spot to sit and eat. It was my first time trying hashimaki. I imagined it would have the same texture as okonomiyaki (savory Japanese pancakes), but it was much fluffier. It was so tasty!
We also tried sweet potato chips, and they were delicious too.
After satisfying our hunger, we headed to the stalls selling kumade.
These are lucky charms often bought by business owners to wish for prosperity.
It’s said that buying a slightly bigger kumade each year brings more good fortune.
I saw someone carrying an enormous kumade over their shoulder—so big they couldn’t hold it with just one hand! It made me think, “Their business must be thriving. How impressive!”
Lastly, we visited the shrine. The rows of lanterns decorating the shrine were breathtaking.
There was a huge line of people waiting to pray, so we decided to skip it this time.
I’d love to come back when it’s less crowded and take my time exploring.
Tori-no-Ichi is held on the "Days of the Rooster" in the old lunar calendar.
In 2024, the last day of the festival will be November 29th.
What is Tori-no-Ichi?
*Tori-no-Ichi (The Rooster Market) is a traditional Japanese festival held in November. It takes place on specific days of the lunar calendar called "Days of the Rooster." The festival is known for colorful markets at shrines and temples, where people buy decorative bamboo rakes called kumade. These rakes symbolize "gathering good fortune" and are often bought by business owners to wish for prosperity and success.
One of the most famous locations for Tori-no-Ichi is Asakusa's Ohtori Shrine in Tokyo. The markets are lively with food stalls, performances, and a vibrant atmosphere. It's a unique way to experience Japanese culture and traditions.*
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横浜の大鷲神社では毎年11月に酉の市が開催されます。
この地域は商店街が近くにあり、普段から下町のにぎやかな感じはあるのですが、酉の市のときは段違いに人が多い！
道路を通行止めにして、屋台が立ち並びます。
長男の高校受験の準備があり、私たち家族はしばらく外出を控えていました。
長男に勉強に集中して欲しかったので。
受験がひと段落し、久しぶりに家族で外出できて嬉しいです。
お祭りや屋台の雰囲気を楽しみたいと思います。
酉の市は3つのエリアがあります。
食べ物やおもちゃの屋台、縁起物の熊手の販売所、商売繁盛を祈願する神社です。
時間は昼前で、お腹がすいてきました。まずは
食べ物の屋台から行ってみます。
大通りは人が本当に多いので、脇道を通ろう、、と思ったのですが、脇道もすごい人の多さです。
どの屋台からもおいしそうな良い匂いがしてきます。
「はしまき」がちょうど焼きあがったところだったので購入しました。
そこらへんに腰掛けて食べます。
実は「はしまき」を始めて食べました。お好み焼きを箸で巻いた感じを想像していましたが、もっとフワフワっとした食感でした。おいしかったです。
サツマイモのチップスもおいしい
さて、お腹は満足したので次に商売繁盛の縁起物、熊手を見に行きます。
こちらを購入するのは、主に自営業とかの経営者の方とゆうイメージです。
購入する熊手は毎年少しずつ大きくすると良いと言われています。
一人で持ちきれないほどの大きい熊手を購入して肩に担いで歩いている人を見て、商売が長く続いているんだな。かっこいいなーと思いました。
最後は神社を見に行きます。
ちょうちんがたくさん並んでいる様子は圧巻です。
お参りのための人の行列がすごかったので、今回は参拝を諦めました。
人が少ないときにまた来たいと思います。
酉の市は、11月の旧暦の酉の日に行われます。
2024年は11月29日が最後の開催です。