Highlights
- Thu Dec 17 – Sat Dec 19, 2026, in the grounds of Senso-ji
- Dozens of hagoita stalls — a December fixture of Asakusa
- Dec 18 is Osame no Kannon, the year's last Kannon fair day
- Ebisu-Daikokuten image and engi koban lucky coin charms offered from this time
Background & story
Began in the Edo period as the Toshi-no-ichi year-end market on Kannon's December 17–18 fair days; from the late Edo period hagoita stalls took over, along with the custom of giving a hagoita to a family with a newborn girl (Senso-ji).
Senso-ji's Hagoita-ichi (battledore fair), also called the Toshi-no-ichi year-end market, runs for three days in 2026: Thursday December 17, Friday December 18 and Saturday December 19, in the grounds of Senso-ji temple in Asakusa, Tokyo. The temple's annual calendar lists it with the December 18 "Osame no Kannon" fair day as "Hagoita-ichi, December 17, 18, 19" (Senso-ji official, checked 2026-10-14).
Opening hours for 2026 have not been announced (Senso-ji's site gives no hours as of 2026-10-14).
2026 dates and venue
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Dates | Thu Dec 17 – Sat Dec 19, 2026 |
| Middle day | Fri Dec 18 = "Osame no Kannon", the last Kannon fair day of the year |
| Venue | Senso-ji temple grounds (2-3-1 Asakusa, Taito City, Tokyo) |
| Hours | Not yet announced for 2026. In 2025, Tokyo's official tourism site GO TOKYO listed 9:00–19:30 (19:00 on the last day) |
| Main hall hours | 6:30–17:00 from October to March (Senso-ji) |
| Hagoita prices | Neither Senso-ji nor GO TOKYO publishes a price list — check at each stall |
According to Senso-ji, dozens of stalls selling hagoita (decorated wooden battledores) line the temple grounds for the three days, and the banter between sellers and buyers entertains the crowds — a December fixture of Asakusa.
Getting there (Senso-ji has no parking)
- Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, Asakusa Station: 5 minutes on foot
- Toei Asakusa Line, Asakusa Station: 5 minutes from Exit A4
- Tobu Skytree Line, Asakusa Station: 5 minutes on foot
- Tsukuba Express, Asakusa Station: 5 minutes on foot
- By car: Senso-ji has no parking; the temple points visitors to the Taito City Kaminarimon underground car park and other nearby lots.
What is Hagoita-ichi?
Senso-ji explains that the 18th of every month is a fair day of Kannon, and December 18 — "Osame no Kannon" — draws especially large crowds. In the Edo period, stalls selling New Year goods and lucky charms gathered in the grounds on December 17 and 18 to catch the crowds, and this became known as the Toshi-no-ichi (year-end market). From the late Edo period more and more stalls sold hagoita, and as the custom of giving a hagoita to a family with a newborn girl spread, the battledores became the stars of the market — hence the name Hagoita-ichi. Senso-ji also begins offering its Ebisu-Daikokuten image and "engi koban" lucky coin charms at this time.
Before you go
- Hours: not yet announced for 2026 — check Senso-ji's event page close to the date.
- Prices: there is no official price list; ask at the stall before you choose.
- Crowds: December 18 (Osame no Kannon) draws especially large crowds, according to Senso-ji.
- More in Asakusa: the Sanja Matsuri in May, or kimono rental at REN Asakusa.
Checked 2026-10-14 / Official: https://www.senso-ji.jp/annual_event/21.html
Sources (checked 2026-10-14)
- Senso-ji, annual events: https://www.senso-ji.jp/annual_event/
- Senso-ji, Osame no Kannon & Hagoita-ichi: https://www.senso-ji.jp/annual_event/21.html
- Senso-ji, access: https://www.senso-ji.jp/access/
- GO TOKYO (Tokyo's official tourism site), Senso-ji Toshi-no-ichi (Hagoita-ichi) — 2025 page: https://www.gotokyo.org/jp/kanko/taito/event/hagoita.html
Good to know for visitors
- Getting there
- 5 minutes on foot from Asakusa Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, Tobu Skytree Line and Tsukuba Express; 5 minutes from Exit A4 of Toei Asakusa Line Asakusa Station (Senso-ji). No parking at the temple; use the Taito City Kaminarimon underground car park or other nearby lots.
- Booking & entry
- Check tickets and details on the official page (button above).
- Paying
- Neither Senso-ji nor GO TOKYO publishes hagoita prices — check at each stall (checked 2026-10-14).. Smaller venues in Japan are often cash-first — carry some yen (cards/IC not guaranteed).
- Language
- Stall sellers' banter is in Japanese; Senso-ji's event page is in Japanese.
- Good for
- culture seekers, solo-goers
Good to know
2026 hours are not yet announced (GO TOKYO listed 9:00–19:30, 19:00 on the last day, in 2025). The main hall is open 6:30–17:00 from October to March. December 18 (Osame no Kannon) is especially crowded. No parking at Senso-ji — walk from Asakusa Station (checked 2026-10-14).
Frequently asked questions
- When is Hagoita-ichi 2026 at Senso-ji?
- Thursday December 17 to Saturday December 19, 2026. Senso-ji's annual calendar lists the fair on the same dates every year: "Hagoita-ichi, December 17, 18, 19" (Senso-ji official, checked 2026-10-14).
- What time does it open and close?
- Hours for 2026 have not been announced as of 2026-10-14 — Senso-ji's site lists none. In 2025, Tokyo's official tourism site GO TOKYO listed 9:00–19:30 (19:00 on the last day). Senso-ji's main hall is open 6:30–17:00 (main hall only — not the stalls' hours) from October to March.
- Where is it and how do I get there?
- In the grounds of Senso-ji (2-3-1 Asakusa, Taito City). It is a 5-minute walk from Asakusa Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, Tobu Skytree Line and Tsukuba Express, and 5 minutes from Exit A4 of the Toei Asakusa Line station (Senso-ji access page).
- How much is a hagoita?
- Neither Senso-ji nor GO TOKYO publishes prices. Dozens of stalls line the grounds (Senso-ji), so compare sizes and designs and ask the price at the stall before you buy.
- Is there parking?
- No. Senso-ji has no parking and points visitors to the Taito City Kaminarimon underground car park and other nearby lots (checked 2026-10-14).