Setsubun is an annual festival in Japan. It’s literally the division of the seasons. It’s a time of renewal. A time of good wishes for the coming year. A time for happiness. A time to turn the page on another winter.
Like other such festivals, there are a lot of regional and local variations. When graduate students from CMGT 5202 Storytelling Through Innovation attended setsubun in Spring 2026 at Fujinomori-jinja (a Shinto shrine) near Temple University’s Kyoto campus, the festival featured a concert by the resident taiko drum group, traditional Shinto music and dance, warm amazake to fight off the cold, and chewy dango for good fortune.
鬼は外服はうち！
No setsubun festival is complete, however, without the appearance of demons, known as 鬼（oni）. Even though the powerful taiko drums thundered through the night to symbolically scare the demons away, they still came. The gathered crowd was provided with dried soybeans with which to pelt the oni, while shouting 鬼は外服はうち！（”Oni wa soto – fuku wa uchi!” or “Devils Out! Happiness In!”）. You’ll be glad to know the demons were successfully banished for another year, and happiness came to the gathered crowd at Fujinomori-jinja.
To help you welcome in your own happiness when you come to this beautiful and historic city we call home, the students of CMGT 5202 have crafted three stories to share with you—stories to bring happiness to mind, body, and spirit. Turn the page, so to speak. Click the links below to enjoy them!
Tips for the best user experience…
These stories use ArcGIS Story Maps, which work with a standard mobile or desktop browser.
Additionally, these stories use the Echoes mobile app for geolocated audio content. Please download the free Echoes app to enjoy this audio content (iOS). Or the free Android version of Echoes.
You can enjoy the Echoes audio content even if you’re not in Kyoto. Just download the walk to your mobile device in the Echoes app.
Watch this brief tutorial on how to listen to the Echoes content no matter where you are!
Overlooked Temples in Kyoto
Kyoto is a city with many spiritual traditions. There a multitude of temples you can visit to enhance your own spirituality. Some are more famous than others. Please join us on a journey from Fuji No Mori shrine to some of the overlooked temples of Kyoto, and learn about Buddhism on the way.
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A Season for Stepping Into New Cafés
Cafés across Kyoto each carry their own feel and story. Some are popular spots while others are easy to miss. This guide encourages you to explore these local places, understand why they matter, and feel more at ease walking into them. It is an invitation to slow down, discover new corners of the city, and make your own moments along the way.
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Fitting Into Japan
Join a community that allows you to learn in an interactive way! As we pass the Setsubun season, it is time to be active about your Japanese transformation
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Link to Fitting Into Japan