Ōji Inari-jinja Shrine Fox Parade

Legend has it that on New Year’s Eve foxes from across the Kanto region would gather under a large tree near Ōji and disguise themselves in human costume to make their first shrine visit of the year at Ōji Inari-jinja Shrine.

This legend was famously depicted by the ukiyo-e artist Utagawa Hiroshige in his print Foxfires at the Changing Tree, Ōji, part of his series One Hundred Famous Views of Edo.

What happens?

To honor this tale, since 1993, Ōji has celebrated hatsumode (the first shrine visit of the year during New Year’s Eve/New Year’s) with a fox parade.

People of all ages dress as foxes and carry lanterns; some belong to local community groups and might wear matching outfits, while others join as individuals. Locals will also set up stalls selling food and fox masks, while onlookers crowd the streets to get the best views.

The procession begins with the countdown to 12 o’clock, and proceeds quietly through the town to Ōji Inari-jinja Shrine. If you want to enter the shrine, we recommend arriving before the parade as the lines can get very long. Last year, there was a long line by 9 p.m., and entry restrictions began from 10 p.m.

Pro tip: If you plan on going, carefully consider your options for getting home, as the train station and nearby taxi stand can end up with long queues. Note that the Namboku Line does not run until the morning, and taxi availability may be very limited. The Keihin-Tōhoku Line will run two trains per hour.

How to join

Anyone can participate in this general procession. Note that you will need to apply using this form and pay a fee of ¥2,000. If you are selected, be prepared to wear a suitable kimono and a fox mask or Ōji-style fox face makeup. Note that organizers provide rental lanterns, but you’ll need to source your own seasonally appropriate kimono to participate.

Alternatively, you can also watch the procession for free, but you’ll want to get there early to stake out a good spot – people usually start grabbing spaces from 9 p.m. and by 11 p.m. they’re nearly all gone.

Schedule 2025/26

The main event starts on the evening of December 31 and continues until January 1, finishing around 1:30 a.m. During the day (from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.), children have a stamp rally in fox costumes around the area (registration required).

• 23:00: A rice ceremony signals the start of New Year celebrations at Shōzoku Inari-jinja Shrine.
• 23:30: People start to line-up in preparation for the procession. (Some areas will not be open to the public).
• 0:00: At midnight, a countdown starts and the fox parade commences from in front of Shōzoku Inari-jinja Shrine.
• 01:30: The procession arrives at Ōji Inari Shrine and festivities wrap up.