Celebrating Babies in Japan

From pregnancy blessings and the first shrine visit to the 100-day feast and Shichi-Go-San, here is how Japan welcomes its youngest family members.

Published October 15, 2026 at 11:04 PM JST | By Tokyo Paul

Quick answer: Japan welcomes babies with a series of warm customs: pregnancy blessings, the first shrine visit (miyamairi), the hundred-day feast (okuizome) and the November festival Shichi-Go-San. Each milestone expresses wishes for good health, a happy life and plenty to eat, often with kimono, special foods and family photographs.

A Country That Celebrates Every Milestone

In Japan, the early years of a child's life are marked by a series of warm, beautiful customs. Families visit shrines, dress their little ones in kimono, share special foods and take plenty of photographs. Each milestone expresses the same wishes: good health, a happy life and enough to eat for years to come. Many of these traditions are centuries old, yet they remain very much alive in modern family life.

This guide introduces the main customs from pregnancy through childhood, with a focus on the first shrine visit, the hundred-day celebration and the November festival of Shichi-Go-San. It is written for curious travelers, parents, and anyone who might be invited to share in a Japanese family celebration. Practices vary from region to region and family to family, and many families choose a simplified version that suits their schedule, so think of the details as a general picture rather than a fixed rulebook.

If you travel in Japan in autumn, you may see families in kimono at shrines, children clutching long bags of candy and relatives gathering for photographs. Knowing what you are seeing makes these moments even more charming.

Pregnancy Blessings and the First Shrine Visit

The celebrations begin before the baby arrives. In a tradition called inu no hi, or the day of the dog, an expectant mother may visit a shrine or temple on a day of the dog in the zodiac calendar, which comes around every twelve days. The dog is associated with easy births, since dogs are thought to deliver with little trouble, and the visit is a way to pray for a safe delivery. Many shrines offer a blessing, and some give a maternity belt that is worn around the belly.

This custom is often traditionally linked to the fifth month of pregnancy, and some families celebrate with a small meal afterward. Families today decide how much to follow tradition, and some choose a simple visit or a blessing at a shrine near their home. Others simply enjoy a special dinner with the grandparents, who are often thrilled to share in the excitement.

Many shrines are used to welcoming expectant mothers and young families, and the staff are generally happy to explain the process. A traveler who is expecting a baby can find these shrines, such as famous ones in Tokyo and Nara, welcoming places to spend a quiet moment.

About a month after birth, many families take part in miyamairi, the first shrine visit, also called omiyamairi. Traditionally boys were taken on about the thirty-first day and girls a day or two later, but modern families usually choose a convenient date anywhere from one month to about a hundred days after the birth, depending on the baby's health, the weather and the family's schedule. The visit is a chance to thank the local guardian deity for the safe arrival and to pray for healthy growth.

At the shrine, a priest in ceremonial robes recites a prayer, naming the baby and the family and waving a purification wand. The parents and grandparents may bow at the altar and present a small offering of a sacred branch. Afterward, the family may receive a small gift, and there is often a sip of sake from a little red cup for the adults. The baby is often dressed in a special outfit, such as a kimono-style robe or a white baby dress.

Photographs follow, of course. Many families take pictures on the shrine grounds, and a visit is a lovely moment for relatives to meet the newest member. If the weather is hot or cold, or the mother is still recovering, families simply choose a better day, since the comfort of the baby and mother comes first.

The Hundred-Day Feast

Around the hundredth day after birth, families hold okuizome, a ceremony that celebrates the baby's first symbolic meal. The tradition is said to go back to the Heian period and expresses a wish that the child will never go hungry. A tray is prepared with a feast that traditionally includes red rice, a clear soup, a whole fish, pickles and a simmered dish, served on special tableware.

The baby is far too young to eat the meal, of course, so the ritual is symbolic. A family elder, often a grandparent, gently touches a pair of chopsticks to the baby's lips, one food at a time. A small smooth stone is sometimes included on the tray, with the hope that the baby will grow strong teeth, a charming reminder of how this ceremony looks forward to a healthy life.

The hundred-day celebration is also a popular time for a family photo, and some families combine it with the first shrine visit. Because the practices can vary, you may see anything from an elaborate banquet to a small celebration at home with the grandparents, and each is a lovely way to mark the moment.

Shichi-Go-San in November

Perhaps the most visible of all these customs is Shichi-Go-San, whose name means "seven, five, three." Held on November 15, or on a nearby weekend, it celebrates children who have reached the ages of three, five and seven. Traditionally girls celebrate at ages three and seven, and boys at five, although some families also celebrate boys at three. The odd numbers are considered lucky in East Asian tradition, and the festival is a thanksgiving for healthy growth.

Families visit a shrine for a blessing, and the children are often dressed in kimono, sometimes for the very first time. Five-year-old boys may wear a hakama and a haori jacket, while girls of seven may wear their first obi, the wide kimono sash. Three-year-old girls often wear a padded vest called a hifu over their kimono. Some children wear formal Western clothes instead, and that is perfectly fine. The roots of the festival are traced to the court and samurai families of past centuries, and by the Meiji period ordinary families had adopted the custom.

The festival has its own sweet symbol, chitose ame, whose name means "thousand-year candy." These are long, thin red and white candies sold in bags decorated with cranes and turtles, both traditional symbols of long life. The candy is long to represent a long and happy life. Visitors who see families at a shrine in November will often spot children proudly carrying their candy bags.

Tips for Visitors and Guests

If you are lucky enough to be invited to one of these celebrations, a small, thoughtful gift for the baby or child is usually appreciated, and it is polite to ask the family about their preferences. You can simply offer congratulations, enjoy the food and join in the photographs. If the baby is asleep, a quiet greeting is a friendly way to join the celebration.

As a traveler, you can see these customs without an invitation. Major shrines in cities such as Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka are busy with families around mid-November, and the atmosphere is cheerful. Be respectful when taking photographs, since these are private family occasions. It is kind to avoid pointing a camera at someone else's children and to ask a parent before taking a picture, or simply to enjoy the scene as a memory.

Shrines are generally open to everyone, but they have their own manners. It is customary to bow slightly at the entrance, rinse your hands at the purification fountain and keep a calm voice. Dressing neatly and arriving early help keep things smooth, particularly on busy weekends.

Quick Takeaways

Japanese baby customs are a series of gentle celebrations that mark growth with gratitude. Pregnancy blessings, the first shrine visit, the hundred-day feast and Shichi-Go-San each have a special flavor, from kimono and candy to symbolic meals and family photos.

The best way to enjoy them is to appreciate the spirit behind them: good health, long life and a happy home. Whether you join a family celebration or simply admire children in their kimono on a November weekend, you are watching one of the warmest traditions in Japanese culture.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is miyamairi in Japan?

Miyamairi is the first shrine visit for a newborn in Japan. Traditionally boys went on about the thirty-first day and girls a day or two later, but modern families choose a convenient date from one month to about a hundred days after birth. A priest recites a prayer naming the baby.

What is the okuizome hundred-day feast?

Okuizome is a ceremony held around the hundredth day after birth, celebrating the baby's first symbolic meal. A tray features red rice, a clear soup, a whole fish, pickles and a simmered dish. An elder touches chopsticks to the baby's lips, expressing a wish that the child never goes hungry.

What is Shichi-Go-San?

Shichi-Go-San, meaning seven, five, three, is a festival held on November 15 or a nearby weekend for children who have reached those ages. Families visit shrines for blessings, children often wear kimono, and they carry bags of chitose ame, the thousand-year candy that symbolizes a long and happy life.

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More guides from Tokyo Paul: Weddings in Japan, Customs of Respect, Japanese Superstitions and Lucky Numbers.