2025 Shichi-go-san

We are inviting all families with small children between the ages of 3~7 to celebrate Shichi-Go-San (7,5,3) with a commemorative portrait session at Shofuso. Shichi-Go-San is a traditional Japanese celebration held each November to pray for the healthy growth and well-being of children aged three, five, and seven. On this day, children are traditionally dressed in formal kimono and visit shrines with their families to receive blessings.

In recent years, portraits have become an integral part of the celebration, and Shichi-Go-San is now a cherished opportunity for families to commemorate a meaningful and historically significant milestone in their child’s life. We are so happy to be able to bring this time-honored tradition to Shofuso; offering all of the services you’d be able to find in Japanese photo studios, right here at our traditional house and garden.

• Three year old girls are dressed in vibrant kimono that emphasize their innocent and joy and symbolize leaving their toddler years behind.
• Boys are dressed in formal hakama, wide pleated trousers, signifying a symbolic step towards manhood and increased responsibility. This tradition has its roots from samurai class during the Edo period, The hakama is often adorned with traditional motifs such as cranes or pine trees, which represent longevity and resilience.
• At seven, girls transition from wearing simpler cords to more formal obi, marking their first step toward wearing traditional adult-style kimono. The intricate process of dressing in a full kimono, complete with layers and accessories, emphasizes the girl’s blossoming beauty and grace.

SHICHI-GO-SAN PHOTOSHOOTS ARE CLOSED FOR THIS YEAR. 

Please check back in 2026 for more information on upcoming photo sessions.

Read more about what our photo sessions will look like by visiting this link >>

About Shichi-Go-San

If you visit a Japanese Shinto shrine in November and you’re likely to see young children dressed in intricate kimono, hair and makeup meticulously styled and bags of candy and parasols in hand. Shichi-go-san is a rite of passage, a traditional Shinto ceremony that celebrates the growth and well-being of children as they age, and an opportunity for parents to have their children photographed in full kimono. It is celebrated on November 15, though since it is not a national holiday, Shichi-go-san is often observed on the closest weekend.

Shichi-go-san means “seven-five-three,” and is intended for three- and seven year-old girls and five year-old boys. The tradition dates back to Heian era Japan, and the odd ages are auspicious numbers in East Asian numerology. (Fifteen, the sum of three, five, and seven, makes the date of November 15 especially lucky.) It’s also rooted in the folkloric belief of young children being close to the spirit world: the saying “until seven years old, children are in the gods’ domain” reveals the origin of this belief, along with the desire to guard children from misfortune and cherish their growth and good health. Visiting a Shinto shrine in order to receive blessings from the spirits is central to Shichi-go-san rituals. The ceremony, which includes purification, prayer, and the offering of a tamagushi branch, aims for harmony between the family, nature, and the gods and is meant to ensure children grow up happy and healthy [Source].

Different customs have been added over several centuries. Chitose-ame (literally “thousand years candy”) is given to children on Shichi-go-san. The candies themselves — two long sticks in white and pink — are placed in an envelope decorated with cranes and turtles for longevity and pines and bamboo for good luck [Source]. The samurai class added other rituals: starting at three, children were permitted to begin growing out their hair. At five, boys could begin wearing hakama pants, and at seven, girls switched from wearing simple cords to tie their kimonos to the obi worn by older girls and adults. A more modern practice is photography on Shichi-go-san, which for many parents is a way to commemorate their child’s first time wearing kimono.