major events/Nara - A journey to the ancient city


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major events

Spring

Shunie (Omizutori) in Todaiji Temple
March 1 to 14

This event is believed to be a call for the arrival of spring in Nara, as it's around this time that the climate begins to get warmer. The monks in Todaiji Temple offer prayers to the eleven-faced Kannon in Nigatsudo Hall for total forgiveness for the sins and misdeeds of mankind, as well as for world peace and happiness.
0742-22-5511

Ochamori in Saidaiji Temple
2nd weekend in April and 2nd Sunday in October

This is a grand tea ceremony held in Saidaiji Temple, which dates back to the 13th Century (Kamakura Period). Monks serve green-powdered tea to visitors in a gigantic tea bowl more than 50cm in diameter and weighing over 4Kg. The guests pass the bowl around and sip tea from it in turn with the help of the people sitting next to them.
0742-45-4700

Uchiwamaki (Paper fan scattering ceremony) in Toshodaiji Temple
May 19

This is a Buddhist memorial ceremony for the ancient high priest Kakusei. Heart-shaped paper fans are scattered together with mochi or rice cakes. If you happen to catch a paper fan, you can expect good luck for the upcoming year. It is especially important for farmers, as catching a fan is a good omen for the following harvest.
0742-33-7900

Summer

Light-up Promenade NARA
July 1 to Oct 31

Various historical buildings in Nara are lit up at night. The sites include Todaiji Temple, the five-storied pagoda of Kofukuji Temple, Nara National Museum, Ukimi-do, Yakushiji Temple and Suzakumon Gate of Heijokyo Palace, showing their fantastic profiles against the night sky.
0742-27-8482 (Nara Prefecture Tourism Division)

NARA Toka-e
Aug.6 to 15

Toka-e is a light festival held in mid-August for 10 days. At night during the period, ten points around Nara Park are lit up beautifully by approx. 20,000 candles.
0742-21-7515 (NPO Nara Toka-e no Kai)

Chugen Mantoro Festival in Kasuga Taisha Shrine
August 14 and 15

All 3,000 lanterns in the sanctuary of Kasuga Taisha Shrine are lit. This is an 800 year old ceremony. The Lanterns were dedicated by people all around Japan. Worshippers write wishes on pieces of Japanese paper before the lanterns are lit by the attendants.
0742-22-7788

Fall

The Exhibition of the Shoso-in Repository
Late October to early November

This exhibition is held at the Nara National Museum. Precious materials and various ancient ornaments brought to Japan through the Silk Road are put on display. The treasures of Shoso-in are so well preserved that they give us a clear picture of how people lived long ago.
0742-22-7771 (Nara National Museum)

Kemari (ball kicking) Festival in Tanzan Shrine
Third Sunday of October

Otherwise known as Momiji-Matsuri Festival (literally maple leaf festival), people wearing period costumes play "kemari", an ancient ball-kicking sport, under the autumn leaves. This ball-kicking game originated in an incident related to the Taika Reforms (645A.D.) which were designed to rationalize ancient Japanese politics. The scene of people playing "kemari" in traditional costumes amidst the brightly colored autumn leaves is a beautiful sight.
0744-49-0001

Shika-no-Tsunokiri (Deer antler cutting ceremony)
4 days among October's Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays

A 300-year old, annual event at Kasuga Taisha Shrine, "Shika-no-Tsunokiri" or deer antler cutting ceremony is held to prevent deer from hurting people or one another. This ceremony is held at the deer enclosure along the path (Omotesando) of the shrine. A running deer is chased and caught. Sake is given to it to calm it down, and then its antlers are cut off. The removed antler is dedicated to the shrine.
0742-22-2388 (Foundation for the Protection of Deer in Nara Park)

Winter

Kasuga Wakamiya Onmatsuri
December 15 to 18

Kasuga Wakayama Onmatsuri is a gorgeous festival held in Nara at the end of the year. Beautifully dressed people walk about in costumes from the 9th to 19th century. Some of them ride horses. During the festival days, Kagura and Maigaku (traditional Japanese dances and performance of ancient Japanese musical instruments) are dedicated to the shrine.
0744-22-7788 (Kasuga Taisha Srine)

Wakakusayama Hill Grass Burning Ceremony
Fourth Saturday of January

Wakakusayama Hill, at a height of 342m, is also called "Mikasayama". The Hill is set alight on a winter night. As soon as the dried grass is lit, the fire spreads over the hill.
0742-22-0375 (Nara Park Management Office)

Onioi Festival (Kofukuji Temple and Horyuji Temple)
February. 3

Six ogres violently running around wielding torches are calmed down by Bishamonten. Then one of the Japanese seven lucky gods, Daikokuten appears and swings his Uchide-no-Kozuchi (the lucky hammer) celebrating that the ogres have been kicked out. Fukumame (sacred soybeans) are scattered and the audience pick them up as a symbol of luck.
0742-22-7755 (Kofukuji Temple) / 0745-75-2555 (Horyuji Temple)

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