Tako-Ichi

Held on days of the ox – one of the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac – every February since Edo times, the Tako-Ichi market has its origins in medieval beliefs that considered the kite (tako) a lucky item. Said to hold the power to prevent fires, which periodically ravaged Edo, the kites gradually assumed a more and more ornamental quality, and the market is now a great chance to pick up a beautifully decorated souvenir that's also supposed to bring you all sorts of good mojo. Around 100 stalls are set up on the days of the festival, with Oji Inari Shrine and its surroundings engulfed in a celebratory mood.