Written by Patrick Balfe
Discover local culture and secure yourself exclusive access to one of Japan’s most unique New Year’s ceremonies.
What is the Ōji Fox Pageant?
The origin of the Ōji Fox Pageant is based on an old legend that on New Year’s Eve, foxes from all over the Kantō region gathered in Ōji, dressed themselves in ceremonial attire, and made their first shrine visit of the year to Ōji Inari-jinja Shrine. This legend was depicted in a ukiyo-e print by Utagawa Hiroshige, and since 1993, local residents have been recreating the scene through the Ōji Fox Pageant.
Participants dress in formal kimonos and fox face paint or facemasks and carry lanterns through the town to Ōji Inari-jinja Shrine. The procession starts at midnight and typically finishes at Ōji Inari-jinja Shrine around 1:00 a.m. While it’s free to watch the parade, spots get taken quickly, and you usually need to arrive at least a few hours early to stake out a seat.
What to expect
This tour guarantees one of the parade’s most coveted and exciting viewing spots as well as an izakaya dinner beforehand. There’s a range of packages to choose from, including options that feature a guided shrine visit and a sake tasting experience with a professional sake sommelier. The tour promises discovery of Japanese culture with the help of local guides and sake masters, enviable views of the parade, and the option to relax in a warm room after the procession until the crowds subside.
Tickets
These are the different package options:
- Standard Full Experience (4 hours) – ¥15,000: Includes shrine visit, sake tasting, izakaya dinner, and Fox Procession viewing.
- Extended Full Experience (5 hours) – ¥20,000: Includes shrine visit, sake tasting, izakaya dinner, Fox procession viewing, and a warming breakfast of three osechi traditional Japanese New Year’s dishes and ozoni soup after the parade.
- Dinner and Fox Procession (3 hours) – ¥18,000: Includes izakaya dinner and Fox Procession viewing
All options come with all-you-can-drink (both alcoholic and soft drinks) and a Japanese cypress sake cup souvenir. Head to the official website for more information and bookings. The website has plenty of other events and tours to check out, too, like this event that features Kabuki makeup, a traditional dance performance, and a ramen workshop.
How to get there
The meeting spot for the tour is the North Exit of JR Ōji Station. From Tokyo to Ōji, you can take the Keihin Tohoku Line or the Tokyo Metro Namboku Line – the trip is about 12 minutes from Ueno, and easy access from central Tokyo.
