Shichi-Go-San

Shichi-Go-San is a traditional Japanese festival held annually on November 15 to mark the healthy growth of three- and seven-year-old girls and five-year-old boys. Families visit shrines across Japan, dressing children in kimono or formal attire, and celebrate with prayers and special sweets.

• Celebrates girls aged 3 and 7, and boys aged 5
• Held annually on November 15 across Japan
• Children wear kimono or formal attire for shrine visits
• Chitose ame, 'thousand year candy', is given for good health
• Not a national holiday but widely observed on the nearest weekend

What it is

Shichi-Go-San, meaning 'seven-five-three', is a cherished Japanese festival and rite of passage for young children. On this day, families celebrate the growth and well-being of girls aged three and seven, and boys aged five, with prayers for their future health and happiness. The festival is rooted in the belief that odd numbers are auspicious, and these ages mark important milestones in a child's life. Shichi-Go-San is a time for families to honor their children’s journey, often marking the occasion with traditional dress and visits to local shrines.

Where it comes from

Shichi-Go-San is believed to have begun in the Heian period among court nobles, who celebrated their children's passage into middle childhood. The festival became associated with November 15 during the rule of Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, who held rites for his son on that date. Over time, the tradition spread to the samurai class and eventually to commoners, evolving into a widespread celebration. The ages three, five, and seven were chosen due to their significance in East Asian numerology, which considers odd numbers lucky. By the Meiji period, the festival included shrine visits to pray for children's health and long life.

How it is celebrated

On Shichi-Go-San, children dress in traditional kimono—often for the first time—and visit Shinto shrines with their families. Three-year-old girls typically wear a hifu, a padded vest, while five-year-old boys don hakama trousers and haori jackets. Seven-year-old girls wear a kimono with a formal obi sash. Some families opt for Western-style formal wear. A key part of the celebration is receiving chitose ame, long red and white candies symbolizing healthy growth and longevity, presented in bags decorated with cranes and turtles. The day is also a popular occasion for family photography, capturing children in their festive attire.

Joining in

Visitors in Japan during mid-November can witness Shichi-Go-San at shrines, especially in cities like Tokyo and Kyoto. Families gather at local shrines, and it is common to see children dressed in colorful kimono or suits, posing for photographs. While the festival is primarily a family affair, respectful visitors are welcome to observe the rituals and enjoy the festive atmosphere around shrine grounds. Expect a lively scene filled with proud parents, excited children, and the gentle clatter of geta sandals on stone paths.

Sources and attribution

This page is Mela's own summary, written in new words. Its facts are drawn from the Wikipedia article Shichi-Go-San, whose text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Each photo is credited to its author beside it. For the full account, read the originals below.

Read more

• Shichi-Go-San on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• Encyclopaedia BritannicaArticle
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
• Wikidata recordOpen data

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