Japan’s traditional autumn moon-viewing festival associated with the rice harvest is called Tsukimi.
Tsukimi, literally “moon viewing,” is a Japanese custom of admiring the full moon in autumn. It is linked to the fifteenth night of the eighth month in the traditional lunisolar calendar, although modern observances usually occur in September or October and do not always fall on the calendar full moon.
People commonly display pampas grass and offer seasonal foods such as rice dumplings called tsukimi dango, taro, beans, and agricultural produce. These offerings express gratitude for the harvest and prayers for future abundance.
Tsukimi is distinct from Niiname-sai, the imperial harvest thanksgiving ceremony. Tsukimi is a broader seasonal custom practiced by households, temples, and businesses, while Niiname-sai is a formal state-linked ritual.