Moon-Viewing in Fukagawa Edo Museum

Seasonal Festivals among Commoners in Edo

During the Edo period (1603-1867), several seasonal festivals are said to have observed as the holidays for the people. With the adoption of the new calendar in 1873, the holidays were abolished, however, the annual festivals are still celebrated by Japanese people.
You can enjoy the decorations of six annual events (New Year, Inari Shrine Festival, Doll Festival, Boy’s Festival, Star Festival and Moon-Viewing Festival) displayed in Fukagawa Edo Museum.

Moon-Viewing Festival

Moon-Viewing Festival is one of the seasonal festivals. For this year, the full moon on the fifteenth night falls on September 24, and the moon on the thirteenth night on October 21.
For both days, the seasonal offerings are set on a stand in the moonlight, and people celebrate a huge harvest of five main cereals as "a harvest festival" and enjoy the beauty as "a moon-viewing party."

"Furyu Genji Tukuda"

UTGAWA Hiroshige and SANDAI Toyokuni

* A beautiful woman is enjoying  full  moon on the terrace alongside Sumida River close to Fukagawa Edo Museum.

Offerings for moon-viewing 

For both nights, seasonal harvests, rice dumplings and sake are offered. Seasonal plants such as Japanese silver grass and ominaeshi (yellow patrinia) are offered along with crops including taros, Japanese chestnuts and green soybeans.
Two different size of dumplings were made. Large one made for an offering to the moon was 10.5 cm in diameter and small one was 6 cm in diameter for a family to eat.
The taro was once considered as the staple food along with rice cakes.

Modern Dumplings

You can also enjoy modern dumplings such as Dango and Daifuku nearby Japanese-style confectionery store.

It implies various beliefs of people in the moon, and has long been hands down to the present.

だんご "Dango" (Baked Dumplings) 

大福 "Daihuku"

By Mieko

How about visiting Fukagawa Edo museum and enjoying the Moon-Viewing Festival? Please look at our website and book the Course B.