Planning Your Trip to Tokyo - Tokyo - page 40

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Shichi-go-san (Children's Shrine-Visi-
ting Day), held throughout Japan.
Shichi-go-san literally means “seven-
five-three”; it refers to children of these
ages who are dressed in their best
kimono and taken to shrines by their
elders to express thanks and to pray for
their future. In Tokyo, the most popu-
lar sites are the Meiji, Yasukuni, Kanda
Myojin, Asakusa, and Hie shrines.
November 15.
Tori-no-Ichi (Rake Fair), Otori Shrine
in Asakusa. This fair features stalls sell-
ing rakes lavishly decorated with paper
and cloth, which are thought to bring
good luck and fortune. The date, based
on the lunar calendar, changes each
year. Mid-November.
Labor Thanksgiving Day, a national
holiday. November 23.
D ECEMBER
Gishi-sai, Sengakuji Station. This
memorial service honors 47 masterless
samurai (ronin), who avenged their mas-
ter's death by killing his rival and parad-
ing his head; for their act, all were
ordered to commit suicide. Forty-seven
men dressed as the ronin travel to Sen-
gakuji Temple (site of their master's
burial) with the enemy's head to place on

their master's grave (see “The Masterless
Samurai” box, below). December 14.
Hagoita-Ichi (Battledore Fair), Sen-
soji Temple. Popular since Japan's feu-
dal days, this fair features decorated
paddles of all types and sizes, as well as
shuttlecocks and kites. Most have
designs of Kabuki actors—images made
by pasting together silk and brocade—
and make great souvenirs and gifts.
December 17 to 19.
Emperor's Birthday, a national holi-
day. The birthday of Akihito, Japan's
125th emperor, became a national holi-
day in 1989. December 23.
New Year's Eve, celebrated nationwide.
At midnight, many temples ring huge
bells 108 times to signal the end of the
old year and the beginning of the new
(each peal represents a sin). Many fami-
lies visit temples and shrines to pray for
good luck and prosperity and to usher
in the coming year. In Tokyo, Meiji
Shrine is the place to be for this popular
family celebration; many coffee shops
and restaurants in nearby Harajuku stay
open all night to serve the revelers.
Other popular sites are Kanda Myojin
Shrine, Sensoji Temple, and Sanno Hie
Shrine.

3

2 ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Note: As of 2007, all foreigners entering
Japan are fingerprinted and photographed
in a measure to prevent terrorism, despite
the fact that terrorism in Japan has been
mostly homegrown. Exceptions include
children younger than 16, diplomats, and
some permanent residents of Japan.

document necessary to enter Japan is a
passport. For information on how to get a
passport, go to “Passports,” in chapter 12.

VISAS
Foreign visitors from many countries can
enter Japan without a visa for purposes of
tourism. Americans, Australians, and
New Zealanders traveling to Japan as
tourists for a stay of 90 days or less need
only a valid passport to gain entry into the
country. Canadians don't need a visa for

PASSPORTS
For most tourists, including those from the
United States, Canada, Australia, New Zea-
land, and the United Kingdom, the only