Today was the official day of Shichi-Go-San, but for weeks families have been dressing their 7-year-old girls, 5-year-old boys, and 3-year-old girls in traditional finery and taking them to shrines to wish for long life and good health.
No expense is spared. The 7-year-olds have been up since dawn at the hairdresser, being pinned and sprayed into their first grow-up hairdos and wrapped in their first grown-up kimonos with obis tied in traditional unmarried girls’ knots. Boys don formal hakama embellished with cranes and other auspicious motifs. 3-year-old girls wear a padded jacket over their kimonos, and are allowed to start growing out their hair.
Here are a few more pictures!
If you happen to be in Tokyo in the two weeks leading up to November 15, you can see children and their families dressed up at most big shrines and temples. The Meiji Shrine is my favorite place to see them. If you’d like to go there, visit my website, The Tokyo Guide I Wish I’d Had.
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The Last Tea Bowl Thief was chosen as an Editor’s Pick for
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“A fascinating mix of history and mystery.” —Booklist
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Jonelle Patrick writes novels set in Japan, produces the monthly e-magazine Japanagram, and blogs at Only In Japan and The Tokyo Guide I Wish I’d Had
Only In Japan 
These are marvelous photos. I love the confidence of that first girl’s pose.
Adorable!!!!
The first girl and the other one later in the green are too cute!!! ^_^
This is my favorite picture-taking holiday, because everywhere you point, there’s unparalleled cuteness.