On January 25, 2026, Kitano Tenmangu Shrine (Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto City), known as the shrine to the god of learning, held its first festival of the year, "Hatsutenjin," a traditional Japanese festival. Despite the bitter cold and light snow, the shrine bustled with students praying for success and worshippers enjoying the street stalls.
The festival is held on the 25th of each month to commemorate the birthday (June 25) and death anniversary (February 25) of the enshrined deity, Sugawara no Michizane. The January festival is called Hatsutenjin. According to Tenmangu Shrine, there were many stalls, and the area around the shrine grounds was packed with shops selling antiques, fresh flowers, food and drink. As the festival was held on a weekend, families were also a popular sight.
After snow was spotted on the branches of the "Yogo no Matsu" (shadow-facing pine) tree in the snow-covered grounds, a "First Snow Festival" ritual was hastily held in the morning. The name comes from a legend that says that when the first snow falls between the beginning of winter and the beginning of spring, the spirit of the enshrined deity descends on this pine tree and composes poems while admiring the snow.
As it was exam season, people were arriving one after another to pray for success.
