SEASON OF THE MOON: JAPANESE FOLKTALES AND MYTHS

DISCOVER THE LEGENDS TO ENJOY WHILE MOON VIEWING THIS OCTOBER

BY SCRAP Global Team

Autumn is just around the corner! Here in Japan, because of the cool, comfortable weather, people gather and enjoy hobbies, and enjoy the delicious autumn harvests. Since ancient times, autumn has been closely related to moon viewing and legends. Here are some legends from Japan to enjoy while appreciating the beauty of the autumn moon.

Japanese deity of the Moon

No mythology is safe from a moon-related god. In Japanese mythology, Tsukuyomi represents the moon, night, and the passage of time. According to Kojiki, he was born from Izanagi, the deity who created the islands of Japan. He is remembered for the myth in which he killed the food goddess, leading to the eternal separation of the sun and the moon.

Kaguya-hime, The Bamboo Princess

Perhaps one of the most retold Japanese folklore in popular culture, Kaguyahime is the beautiful and mysterious protagonist from The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter. Kaguyahime was a woman of extraordinary beauty, and countless nobles and even the Emperor himself sought her hand. At the end of the story, she reveals her true identity – a princess from the moon, destined to return home when her time on earth was over.

This story also connects to another famous symbol of Japan. There is a saying that the name of Mount Fuji came from this very tale, as the mountain was believed to be the place where the Emperor’s messengers burned the elixir of immortality after the princess left for the moon.

The Moon Rabbit

If you look closely at the full moon in Japan, you might not see a “man in the moon” like in Western stories, but rather the shadow of a rabbit pounding rice cakes. This is the Moon Rabbit (月のうさぎ), a figure widely featured in legends and folklore across East Asia.

In Japan, the story is believed to have originated from Buddhist texts, where a rabbit sacrifices itself in an act of compassion and is rewarded by being placed on the moon. Since then, the image of the rabbit making mochi has been tied to moon viewing.

Moon Viewing: From Ancient Ritual to Modern Gathering

The custom of moon viewing, or Otsukimi (お月見), first came to Japan from China during the Heian era. Families would gather under the full moon in autumn to admire its beauty, give thanks for the harvest, and make offerings such as rice dumplings and seasonal crops. What began as a ritual of moon worship eventually became a cultural practice.

Today, Otsukimi is less about solemn offerings and more about companionship. Families, friends, and couples sit together to enjoy the crisp night air, seasonal snacks, and of course, the bright autumn moon.

Haunted Escape — Just In Time For Autumn

October is here, and that can only mean one thing, Halloween is creeping closer! Looking for a spine-tingling way to celebrate? Gather your bravest friends and step into Escape from the Haunted Manor, our chilling escape game experience in Asakusa.
You’ll take on the role of a detective, sent to investigate a manor shrouded in mystery and linked to a string of disappearances. Locals whisper that something sinister lurks inside. Strange noises, vanishing residents… and now, it’s your turn to uncover the truth.
Search for clues, solve mind-bending puzzles, and try to stay one step ahead of whatever’s hiding in the dark. Will you escape before it’s too late… or become the manor’s next victim?

Do you dare challenge the mystery of the haunted mansion?
Escape from the Haunted Manor

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