Setsubun festival at Zojoji Temple

Shiba Park Hotel 151 in Tokyo will hold an event on Feb 3 to observe the Setsubun Mame-maki festival at Zojoji Temple. The event is designed to allow guests from overseas to experience and enjoy Japanese culture and customs.

"Setsubun" means the day before the first day of spring. As it is believed in Japan that evils come when seasons change, "mame-maki" is a custom in which people throw beans at their houses to drive evils away.

At the event, hotel staff will introduce the "setsubun" custom, and escort guests to observe the festival at Zojoji Temple.

Shiba Park Hotel 151 President Rentaro Yanase said: "On 'setsubun,' we pray for happiness of the year by throwing and eating beans. I hope that guests will become familiar with Japanese 'setsubun' culture through this event."