The Autumn Day Japan Celebrates Every Child's Growth

Shichi-Go-San is a mid-November rite of passage for children aged three, five and seven, and this guide explains its history, clothing, candy and practical tips for families.

Updated October 19, 2026 | By Tokyo Paul

Quick answer: Shichi-Go-San, meaning seven-five-three, is a Japanese rite of passage held around November 15. Families take girls aged three and seven and boys aged five, and sometimes three, to a shrine to give thanks for their health and pray for continued growth. Children often wear kimono and receive long red and white chitose ame candy.

What Shichi-Go-San celebrates

Shichi-Go-San is a children's festival with a quiet, thankful tone. Parents and grandparents take young children to a local Shinto shrine to say thank you for reaching a milestone age and to ask the shrine's deity for good health in the years ahead. The name means seven-five-three, after the ages being celebrated, and odd numbers are often described as lucky in traditional East Asian thinking.

The usual pattern is that girls are celebrated at three and seven and boys at five, though some families also celebrate boys at three. Reference works give November 15 as the date, but because it is not a national holiday, it is usually observed on a nearby weekend. Shrines are busy with children in kimono for several weeks in late October and November, so the season stretches beyond a single day.

A history of milestones

The custom is thought to go back to the Heian period, when court nobles marked stages of a child's growth, and some historians connect it to the Muromachi period, a time when reaching these ages was less certain. Several accounts say that November 15 became the fixed date after the fifth Tokugawa shogun, Tsunayoshi, held a ceremony for his son on that day, though sources differ. The samurai class later added rituals of their own.

Ordinary families took up the custom in the Meiji period, and it became the shrine visit and family outing known today. Accounts differ on some details, which is normal for folk customs with a long history. What stays constant is the idea that growing up is something to celebrate, and that a community, represented by the local shrine, shares in the parents' gratitude.

The three ceremonies

Each age was traditionally linked to its own ceremony. For three-year-olds, kamioki marked the moment when children stopped keeping their hair short and began to let it grow. For five-year-old boys, hakamagi no gi marked the first time they wore a hakama, the formal pleated trousers worn over a kimono, a sign of growing responsibility.

For seven-year-old girls, obitoki no gi marked the first time they wore a proper obi, the stiff sash, in place of the soft cord used by younger children. These steps reflect old ideas about what children could take on at each age. Today the hair ritual has largely disappeared, while the clothing milestones remain the visual center of the day.

Clothing: kimono, hakama and Western formal wear

Many children wear kimono or hakama for the visit, often for the first time. Girls aged three commonly wear a padded vest called a hifu over their kimono, which adds color and warmth for the autumn weather. Boys aged five typically wear a haori jacket and hakama in dark or bright tones, and seven-year-old girls wear a full kimono with an obi tied at the back.

Some children wear Western formal clothing, such as a small suit or a dress, and that is equally accepted. Families can own, borrow or rent kimono, and rental and dressing services for the occasion are common, so check availability well in advance, since popular weekends fill up. Comfortable shoes and an extra layer matter for children, who may be on their feet for the shrine visit and photographs.

Chitose ame: the thousand year candy

The food symbol of the day is chitose ame, which means thousand-year candy. It is a long, thin stick of red and white candy, often sold in a paper bag decorated with cranes and turtles, both traditional symbols of long life. The length of the stick and the thinness are meant to express a wish for a long, healthy life and steady growth.

Children often carry the bag proudly during photographs. Parents typically buy the candy at or near the shrine, or receive it as a gift, and the sticks are sometimes shared with relatives who could not attend. One reference work also notes that making paper cranes is a custom connected with the day.

The shrine visit and family photos

At the shrine, families often register for a short Shinto blessing, in which a priest recites prayers for the child's health and growth. Many shrines accept reservations and set separate time slots in the busy season, and the offering amount is usually posted on the shrine's website, so check the current information. Ceremonies are short, so even young children are usually asked to sit still for only a few minutes.

At the end of the blessing, families may receive a small keepsake from the shrine, such as a talisman or a bag of sweets. Priests may call the children's names and ages aloud, and parents sit nearby. Since practices differ among shrines, it is best to read the shrine's English page or ask at the reception desk about the order of events, the clothing expected and how to arrive in good time.

Photography is a major part of the day. Many families have formal portraits taken at a photo studio, sometimes weeks before the actual visit, and then take more pictures on the shrine grounds. Grandparents often join the outing, and a meal at home or at a restaurant frequently follows. For overseas families, a shrine near home with a Japanese community or a local cultural center may hold related events.

Tips for families, including overseas parents

Families abroad can borrow the spirit of the day without a full ceremony. A simple version is a family meal on a weekend in November, a photo in nice clothes, and a small bag of sweets for each child. Some local Japanese cultural centers, temples and Shinto shrines overseas hold related events, though availability varies by city. Visitors in Japan can see the custom simply by walking near a large shrine on a November weekend.

Children's comfort matters more than perfection. Long ceremonies and tight obi can be tiring, so plan short outings, bring snacks and keep a change of shoes. Respect other families' privacy when taking photos at a shrine, and ask before photographing individual children. Because dates, fees and rules vary by shrine and by year, check the shrine's current information.

Frequently Asked Questions

What age is Shichi-Go-San?

Girls are celebrated at three and seven, and boys at five, and some families also celebrate boys at three. Traditionally Japan counted a child as one year old at birth, so some families use that counting, which can make the celebration a year earlier than the modern age. Families usually follow their own preference.

When is Shichi-Go-San held?

The traditional date is November 15. Because it is not a national holiday, many families visit a shrine on a nearby weekend, and some visit in late October or early November. Shrines tend to be busiest in the weeks around the date, so check the specific shrine for its ceremony hours and any reservations.

What is chitose ame?

Chitose ame is a long, thin red and white candy whose name means thousand-year candy. It is given to children on Shichi-Go-San to express a wish for long life and healthy growth. It is usually sold in a bag decorated with cranes and turtles, which are traditional symbols of longevity in Japan.