Autumn Equinox Day? What's That Then?

The most important factor that defines Autumn Equinox Day across the world, is the relationship between day and night, or light and dark. On this day there are 12 hours of darkness and 12 hours of light. It's 24 hours of balance if you like, and it signals the turning point in the year where summer turns into autumn.

On the Japanese calendar, Autumn Equinox Day usually falls between September 22 - 24. And while the Autumn Equinox is an event that's celebrated all around the world, in Japan there's something extra special about the day. Starting with the name.

So what's the Autumnal Equinox called in Japan?

The Japanese term for this day is Shubun no Hi. 'Hi,' (pronounced 'he,' as in he and she) means 'day' in Japanese. So when you see the name for a national holiday in Japan, you'll often see the structure xxxx no Hi. The first word is the word that describes the day. In this case Shubun.

But the differences in the way the day is celebrated go far beyond just the name. What kind of things are we talking about? Think ancient customs and traditions associated with the celebration that make it well worth a visit if you're here on your travels.

What's the biggest difference about Autumn Equinox Day in Japan?

The biggest difference about the Japanese festival is the period of time, known as 'higan.'

Ok. Fine. So what's higan?!

Higan is the 6 day period that surrounds Autumn Equinox Day in Japan. It's the 3 days before and the 3 days after Shubun no Hi that make up the period called 'higan.' The word 'higan' comes from Buddhism and it literally means 'to reach the other shore'. To understand the full significance of 'higan,' however, you first need to know a little bit about another important date on the Japanese Calendar. The festival of Obon which takes place in August.

How is the Obon festival connected to Autumn Equinox Day?

Obon is all about remembering and honouring our ancestors. And during Obon, it's believed that the souls of our ancestors cross the divide that separates those who are living and those who have passed on, to come back and visit us.

'Higan', is turn about time. It's the turn of those who are living to go and pay their respects to those who have passed on.

What do people do during the period called higan?

Many Japanese people will visit their family members who have passed on and spend time cleaning the area where they are buried, before placing offerings of food, incense, and flowers on the graves.

One special Japanese food that you will see in the shops during the period around Shubun no Hi is a rice ball called 'ohagi'. You'll see many of these little rice balls being placed on graves at this time as part of the family offering. Ohagi is made from mochi, in the same way as the sweets for Japanese New Year are made from mochi.

What's mochi? For the sake of keeping it simple, mochi is made from glutinous rice that's been pounded into a paste and then rolled into balls or moulded into other shapes. What's the most noticeable thing about mochi? It's sticky. If you get the chance to try ohagi or any other mochi-based food, you'll find you can pull it a little bit like an elastic band. The finishing touch for ohagi rice balls is a light covering of soybean flour or azuki bean paste, known as anko. Compared to Western style sweets these are relatively healthy snacks, so if you are offered one you don't need to feel guilty : )

And then, of course, there's all the traditional activities that happen on the day of Shubun no Hi.

So what kind of things can you expect to see on Autumn Equinox Day itself?

If you're in Tokyo on the day of the Autumn Equinox Day festival, the first things to look out for are any signs of a local festival going on at a nearby temple or shrine. They're easy to spot. Your first sign will be the number of locals who'll be milling around the temple or shrine grounds. You'll also see street food stalls and other local produce stalls that wouldn't normally be there.

What's the best part of Tokyo to be in if you aren't going to be here very long but want the chance to see anything that's happening during your stay? There are 2 prime locations in Tokyo that have the most going on in terms of festivals and celebrations. They are Sensoji temple in Asakusa, and Meiji Jingu shrine in Harajuku. If you're lucky, you'll get to see some taiko drummers as well as lots of other traditional events and ceremonies.

But besides all the traditional activities, there's one more reason why the Japanese celebrate Autumn Equinox Day.

What else is special about Autumn Equinox Day?

On Shubun no Hi, Tokyoites and the majority of Japanese will take a big sigh of relief as the heat wave of summer draws to a close. From now, the mercury starts to fall, and is soon followed by the turning of the leaves, known as 'koyo' in Japanese. This usually begins around mid October time in Tokyo.

Finally, because of the imminent fall in temperatures, Autumn Equinox Day also provides a signal to those who are fashion conscious to start thinking about their winter wardrobe. It's something you'll need to think about too when you're packing your suitcase for your trip to Japan.

What's next in your Tokyo holiday planning?

If you're interested in activities and what you can get up to in Tokyo while you're here, take a look at our Tokyo tours section. There's all sorts on offer from regular city tours and the famous Studio Ghibli, to seasonal specials like the Grand Sumo Wrestling tournament. You can tailor your stay so you only do the things you want to do. Just the way it should be.

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