Thursday, July 9, 2009

ほおずき市(hozuki ichi): Chinese Lantern Plant Market


There is a very famous temple in Asakusa (浅草), Tokyo. It is called Senso ji(浅草寺). There are annual events there. One of them is called hozuki ichi(ほおずき市), Chinese Lantern Plant Market which is held on July 9 and 10. The Market opens at 8 am and closes around 9 pm.
Especially July 10 is called shiman rokusen nichi(4万6千日), 46,000 days. If you visit the temple on July 10, it corresponds that you have visited the temple 46,000 days which is about 126 years. Therefore many people try to visit the temple on this day. This tradition has nearly 300 years history.
There are more than 200 street stalls selling Chinese lantern plants (see the picture). One pot plant costs yen2,500. About 400,000 or 600,000 visitors are expected to come to this festival every year.
This is one of Japanese summer event.

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