The shape of it
About
A rite-of-passage observance for children aged three, five and seven. Families dress youngsters in kimono and visit shrines to pray for their health and growth, making mid-November a beautifully photogenic time at Tokyo's shrines.
Highlights
- Children in colourful kimono visiting shrines with their families
- Chitose-ame 'thousand-year candy' in long decorated bags for longevity
- Especially photogenic at Meiji Jingu and other major Tokyo shrines
Plan it well
- Not a public holiday — observances cluster on the nearest weekends around November 15.
- Visit a major shrine on a mid-November weekend to see families in formal dress; be courteous when photographing children.
- Overlaps with the start of autumn-foliage season — combine with a garden or park visit.
