Events around Nara Park (April 2011)

Around Nara Park:

April 5(tue) Chinka-sai Festival of Mizuya Shrine

@Mizuya Shrine in the precinct of Kasuga Grand Shrine

Started in 1288, this is a festival to pray for protection from a plague. Kyogen, traditional comic dramas, are offered to deities after the festival. Kyogen plays are performed by Kasuga Grand Shrine’s Shinto priests and others.

10:00~ Chinka-sai Festival

13:00~ Offertory of Kyogen Play

April 5(tue)- April 10(sun) Special Opening of Honbo Office, Tenno-den Hall and Jibutsu-do Hall

@Todaiji Temple (Buildings above are located just north of Great South Gate)

40 paintings on Fusuma sliding doors, portraits of emperor Shomu and empress Komyo and reproduction of their imperial clothing are on display. Paintings are works by Junsaku Koizumi. Among 40 paintings on Fusuma sliding doors, completed last year, you can see pictures of Nara’s famous cherry blossoms.

Time: 10:00~17:00(April 5-7)/10:00~20:00(April 8-10) *Enter 30min before the closing time.

Admission: 1000yen *Children under 12yrs old are free. *All proceeds go to earthquake relief.

April 8(fri) Sakyamuni Buddha’s Birthday

April 8 is said to be the birthday of Sakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism. Many temples hold a ceremony to celebrate his birthday. Usually a birth statue of Buddha is placed in front of a hall. The statue is enshrined in a small temporary shrine decorated with flowers. Sweet tea made from Amacha, a type of hydrangea, are poured onto a birth statue of Buddha.

@Todaiji Temple in Great Buddha Hall

8:00~9:00 Ceremony

8:00~15:00 Pouring tea over a birth statue of Buddha

*You can pour and taste Amacha tea by and for yourself.

@Kofukuji Temple in Nanen-do Hall

10:00~ Ceremony

You can visit the temporary shrine for a birth statue of Buddha till around 16:00. Amacha tea is offered to visitors.

April 17(sun) Hojyo-e Ceremony

13:00~ @ Kofukuji Temple

Hojyo-e literally means “a ceremony to release living creatures”. This ceremony reminds people of a Buddhist commandment – do not kill. In Kofukuji Temple’s Hoyo-e Ceremony 1500 fish are released to Sarusawa Pond after a ritual ceremony.

April 19(tue) Manju Festival

@ Kangou Shrine (5min walk from Kintetsu Nara Station)

Manju is a steamed bun with sweet bean paste inside. The first person who made Manju in Japan was a Chinese named Lin from 14 century. He lived near Kangou Shrine where a small shrine for him, Lin Shrine, stands now. April 19 is Lin’s death anniversary. Confectionary companies throughout the country offer their confectionaries to Lin’s soul.

11:00~ 12:00 ritual ceremony

Tea and Manju (*a limited number) are offered to visitors until around 14:00.

April 21(thu) Death Anniversary of Kukai

Kukai is one of the most worshipped Buddhist priest in Japan. April 21 (March 21 in lunar calendar) is his death anniversary. On this day, many temples throughout Japan hold a ceremony to commemorate him.

@Daianji Temple where young Kukai learned Buddhism

13:00~ ritual ceremony

14:00~ Homa ritual

*Kukai’s hair is open to the public only on this day. Temple’s treasured Buddhist statues are also open to the public.

April 23(sat) – May 8(sun) Special Opening of Hokuen-do Hall

Hokuen-do Hall houses three national treasure statues from 13 century. The hall itself is also designated as a national treasure.

9:00~17:00 (admission till 16:45) @Kofukuji Temple

Admission: Adults 300yen, Students 200yen, Elementary School Students 100yen

April 23(sat) – May 8(sun) Special Viewing of Temple Treasures

9:00~17:00(enter before 16:30) @Gangoji Temple

Chikou Mandala (important cultural property) and two picture scrolls are open to the public. Two picture scrolls, each over 10m (32ft) long, depict the history of Gangoji Temple. Chikou Mandala depicts paradise of Amitabha Buddha.

April 24(sun) Offertory of Kyudo

14:00~ @Kasuga Grand Shrine

Kyudo or Japanese archery is offered to the deities. Men in traditional warrior class costumes perform Kyudo. Archers are from Ogasawara school, a Kyudo school with over 800 year olds tradition.

April 25(mon) Monju-e Ceremony

Monju or Manjusri is a bodhisattva of wisdom. In this ceremony children’s healthy growth and academic success are prayed.

14:30~ A procession of children in traditional costumes. Starts from Jyokyoji Temple on Sanjyo St. and walks to Kofukuji Temple.

15:00~ Ritual ceremony at Tokondo Hall in Kofukuji Temple

April 26(tue) Hana-matsuri Festival with thousand Buddhist monks

13:00~ @Todaiji Temple, Great Buddha Hall

Thousand Buddhist monks from various Buddhist sects gather to pray together at Todaiji Temple. Monks’ outfits are slightly different from a sect to a sect – it might be interesting to compare their outfits.

Around Kintetsu Yamato Saidaiji Station:

April 9(sat) – April 10(sun) Big Cup Tea Ceremony

@ Saidaiji Temple

Experience a unique tea ceremony using big tea cups – 30cm in diameter and 7kg in weight. Of course other tea utensils are big too. A Buddhist priest makes tea with 35cm long tea whisk!

Fee: 3000yen (includes a tea ceremony, light meal, Homa ritual and admission into the main hall)

Around Horyuji Temple and Nishino-kyo:

April 8(fri) Sakyamuni Buddha’s Birthday

April 8 is said to be the birthday of Sakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism. Many temples hold a ceremony to celebrate his birthday. Usually a birth statue of Buddha is placed in front of a hall. The statue is enshrined in a small temporary shrine decorated with flowers. Sweet tea made from Amacha, a type of hydrangea, are poured onto a birth statue of Buddha.

10:00~ @ Jiki-do Hall in Horyuji Temple

April 11(mon) – May 18(wed) Special Viewing of Hidden Statues

@ Hall of Dreams in Eastern Precinct of Horyuji Temple

A national treasure statue of Kannon Bodhisattva made in 7 century is enshrined in this hall. The Kannon statue is said to be modeled after Prince Shotoku, the father of Japanese Buddhism.

Admission: Adults(13yrs old and up) 1000yen for West and Eastern Precincts or 200yen for Eastern Precinct only, Elementary School Students(12-6 year olds) 100yen