Shichi-Go-San
Practices七五三 ・ Reading: shichi-go-san
Definition
The "seven-five-three" rite of passage in which children of those ages visit a shrine in mid-November to give thanks for their growth. Expect kimono-clad children, formal photos, and long candy bags on shrine grounds each autumn.
Celebrating three ages
Shichi-Go-San celebrates girls at three and seven and boys at three and five (customs vary by region), ages once marked by milestones like first growing out the hair or first wearing a formal obi sash. In an era of high child mortality, reaching them deserved thanks. Around November 15, families dress the children in kimono or hakama, visit their shrine, and often request a blessing ceremony in which a priest recites a prayer for the child's healthy future.
What you will see
Throughout November (and increasingly October), shrine grounds fill with small children in brilliant kimono posing for photographs, trailed by proud grandparents. Look for the chitose-ame, "thousand-year candy": long red-and-white sticks in bags decorated with cranes and turtles, symbols of longevity, sold at the shrine. Visitors are welcome to enjoy the scene, but ask before photographing children, and give families space at the worship hall. Meiji Jingū and other large shrines are reliable places to witness the season.
Common questions
- When does Shichi-Go-San take place?
The traditional date is November 15, but families visit throughout October and November, usually on weekends, to avoid crowds and fit schedules.
- What is chitose-ame?
Thousand-year candy: long red-and-white sticks in bags painted with cranes, turtles, and pine, all symbols of longevity, given to the children as a wish for a long healthy life.
- Why ages three, five, and seven?
Odd numbers are auspicious in Japan, and the ages match old milestones: children began growing out their hair at three, boys first wore hakama at five, and girls first tied a real obi at seven.