Thank you for choosing Tokyo Free Walking Tour in Ueno Park and Asakusa on December 18th. We welcomed 14 people from Australia, Philippines, Spain and America. We hope you enjoyed the last beauty of autumn foliage in Ueno Park and the colorful hagoita fair in Asakusa. The following photos were taken during the tours for your memory.
Hagoita(battledore) fair is annually held at Sensoji Temple grounds in Asakusa on December 17-19 to wrap up the year. Hagoiita is a wooden racket for traditional Japanese badminton. Beautiful pictures are drawn on one side. It features portraits of Kabuki (a traditional stage drama) actors, beautiful Edo women and celebrities from sport and entertainment.
There is a tradition that relatives or grandparents give one to the family where a baby girl is born and celebrates the New Year, hoping for healthy growth of the child. Also, turning upside down, hagoita spreads out at the end like Mt. Fuji which is believed to be a good omen. People buy a hagoita as a talisman to protect themselves. In the old days, hagoita badminton games were common among girls but the game has lost popularity in recent decades. It is displayed as a decoration or an amulet for dispelling evil in the living room at home.
Hagoita Fair has about a 360-year history and the Asakusa festival is one of the oldest fairs continuing from the Edo period (1603-1868). There are tens of shops in a row selling beautiful wooden paddles in the Sensoji Temple precincts. They are handmade and traditional skills have been passed down from generation to generation. The size is 50-60cm on average and many crafts are on sale. Prices are negotiable. It is interesting to see how a transaction is done and hand clapping in celebration after the deal has been settled. The fair is held from December 17 to 19 from 9am to 7pm. Just pop in if you are around.
Again, many thanks for your participation in Tokyo Free Walking Tour and we look forward to seeing you at another tours.
(Yoshi)