The shape of it
About
On each Day of the Rooster in November, Ōtori Shrine in Asakusa and its neighbouring Chōkoku-ji temple host Tori-no-Ichi, the lucky-rake fair. Hundreds of stalls sell ornate kumade rakes meant to 'rake in' fortune for the year ahead, with rhythmic hand-clapping sealing each sale through the night.
Highlights
- Hundreds of stalls of glittering kumade lucky rakes decorated with gold, charms and good-fortune symbols
- Buyers and sellers sealing each rake purchase with a rhythmic tejime hand-clapping ritual
- A 24-hour, lantern-lit atmosphere best soaked up late at night with festival food along the approach
Plan it well
- Visit after dark, when lanterns light the rakes and the buzz of clapping deals is at its best
- Start small with an inexpensive kumade and trade up a size each year, as tradition suggests
- Take the Hibiya line to Iriya or Minowa (about a 10-minute walk) and expect dense crowds near the gate
Where it happens
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