Daikoku Matsuri

Daikoku — a god of fortune — is offering up some good luck blessings to set your year off right at this traditional festival at Kanda Shrine near Akihabara.

What happens?

Daikoku, one of the Seven Lucky Gods of Japan, is recognized as the god of wealth. During this festival, there’s a formal prayer service where monks chant and bless participants, and a ceremony for people who already own a Daikoku statue and want it ritually refreshed for the new year

Highlights of the festival include the following two events:

• On Saturday at 10 a.m., a bone-chilling (literally) purification ceremony will be performed as “coming-of-age” participants will douse themselves in ice water.
• On Sunday, at noon, see hōchō-shiki, a tradition in Japanese cuisine hailing from the Heian period which entails the ceremonial slicing of a big carp by masters in the art.