Events around Nara Park (Jan. 2011)

Enjoy New Year and New Year Events in Nara!

Around Nara Park:

Jan.1 (sat) Hatsumode

The first visit to a shrine/temple in a year is called Hatsumode. Hatusmode is usually done from Jan. 1 to 7. Visit to a famous shrine/temple is very crowded especially from Jan.1 to Jan. 3.

@ Kasuga Grand Shrine

0:00 ~ Gates open with a sound of a drum.

@ Todaiji Temple

0:00 ~ 8:00 The Great Buddha Hall is free of admission. The window on the Great Buddha Hall, through which the Buddha’s face appears, opens.

0:00 ~ Sutra chanting at the February Hall. About 135 stone lanterns are lit to light the way from the Great Buddha Hall to the February Hall.

Jan. 2 (sun) Kofukuji Temple’s monks’ visit to Kasuga Grand Shrine

10:00 ~ Monks at Kofukuji Temple make a New Year’s visit to Kasuga Grand Shrine. Sutras are chanted at the Middle Gate of Kasuga Grand Shrine and at Wakamiya Shrine as an offertory to deities. Monks’ colorful robes are eye-catching.

Jan. 3 (mon) Kagura-hajime-siki in Kasuga Grand Shrine

11:00 ~ Kagura is Shinto’s offertory music and dances. At Kagura-hajime-siki, the first Kagura of a year is offered to deities to pray for a peace of a nation and to wish for a safe offertory of Kagura to deities throughout the year.

Jan. 7 (fri) Syusyo-e in Todaiji Temple

13:00 ~ 14:40 @ the Great Buddha Hall

Syusyo-e is a Buddhist ritual held in the New Year season to pray for a peace and wellness of that year.

Jan. 10 (mon) Ebisu Festival in Kasuga Grand Shrine

9:00 ~ 15:00 @ Sarake Shrine near Wakamiya Shrine

Ebisu Festival on Jan 10 is especially popular in Kansai area. Ebisu is a deity for commerce. On this day, people go to an Ebisu Shrine to get lucky bamboo branches.

Jan. 10 (mon) Bugaku-hajime-siki in Kasuga Grand Shrine

13:00 ~ @ the Garden of Apple

Bugaku is traditional Japanese court music and dances. At Bugaku-hajime-siki, the first Bugaku of a year is offered to deities to wish for a safe offertory of Bugaku to deities throughout the year.

Jan. 10 (mon) Coming of Age Day

Coming of Age Day is a national holiday to welcome youth turning into 20 years old as an adult member of a community. On this day, most municipal governments hold a ceremony, and you’ll see many 20-year-olds dressed up in Kimono to attend the ceremony.

Jan. 15 (sat) New Year Tea Ceremony with XL Size Tea-Cup in Saidaiji Temple

10:00 ~ 15:00 Enjoy tea with your neighbor ... more precisely, with the help of your neighbor. The tea cup used in this tea ceremony is 30cm in diameter! You share the drink with your neighbor too. Drink Fee: 1000yen per person.

Jan. 22 (sat) Mountain-burning event at Mt. Wakakusa

18:00 Fireworks marking the beginning of the event

18:15 Fire up the mountain

A picturesque event of Nara - see the burning red Mt. Wakakusa lighting up under fireworks.

Jan. 23 (sun) Tonndo in Kasuga Grand Shrine

9:00 ~ 15:00 @ Tobihino Field (an open field near the main approach of Kasuga Grand Shrine)

Tonndo concludes New Year’s events. In Tondo, New Year ornaments and old lucky charms, brought to a shrine/temple by visitors during New Year season, are burned up.

Jan. 23 (sun) Cancer Prevention – Bamboo Sake Festival in Daianji Temple

8:00 ~16:00 Daianji Temple is known for cancer prevention. Sasa-zake (Bamboo Sake) offered at this temple is believed to prevent and/or cure people from Cancer. Sake is poured from a bamboo cylinder and drank with a bamboo cup. Sasa-zake 500yen.

Nishinokyo and Horyuji Area:

Jan. 1 (sat) Syusho-e

Syusyo-e is a Buddhist ritual held in the New Year season to pray for a peace and wellness of that year.

＠Toshodaiji Temple

0:00 ~ (also on Jan.3, 18:00 ~)

@Yakushiji Temple

0:00 ~

(2:00 ~ Beginning of YearSsermon; 9:00 ~ till Jan. 3 New Year Sutra Copying Session; 13:30 ~ till Jan.3 New Year’s Sermon)

Jan. 1 (sat) ~ Jan. 3 (mon) Worship of a Buddha’s Relic in Horyuji Temple

13:00 ~ @ Shari-den Hall (near the Hall of Dream)

In this ritual one very legendary relic is worshiped. Prince Shotoku, the father of Japanese Buddhism, has many legends. When he was 2, he said a prayer and a Buddha’s relic appeared on his palm. On these days, you can see this legendary relic. Also hidden pictures depicting Prince Shotoku’s life are open to the public.

Jan. 8 (sat) Reading of the Great Prajna Sutra in Yakushiji Temple

11:00 ~ Reading of the Great Prajna Sutra is held every month on 8^th day. The main object of worship in Yakushiji Temple is Yakushi (Medicine) Buddha. 8^th day is a day for Yakushi Buddha in Yakushiji Temple.

Jan. 15 (sat) Reading of the Great Prajna Sutra in Toshodaiji Temple

The Great Prajna Sutra consists of 600 volumes. All 600 volumes will be read.

Sue
-NARAWALK guide

Events around Nara Park (Dec. 2010)

Here is a short list of events around Nara Park.　Enjoy December in Nara!

Around Nara Park:

Dec. 5 (sun) Nara Marathon 2010

8:30-15:00 @Nara-city

During marathon hours some bus lines, including the ones that goes to Todaiji Temple, may be cancelled or change their routes. Keep in mind about traffic irregularities, if you are coming on this day.

Dec. 14 (tue) Butsumyo-e in Todaiji Temple

8:30-12:00 @ Nigatsudo Hall

Monks recite the names of Buddhist deities to repent all sins of that year. Cannot see the ritual itself, but can listen to the chanting.

Dec. 15 (wed) – Dec. 18 (sat) Kasuga Wakamiya Onmatsuri

@Kasuga Grand Shrine and other places

This is a festival held since 1136. The deity of Wakamiya shirne makes his once a year trip to his vacation house near the city centre. Foods and dances are offered to the deity. On Dec. 17, there is a very good chance to see various Japanese traditional performing arts.

Dec. 16 (thu) Special viewing of 3 National Treasure Statues in Todaiji Temple

1) 10:00-16:00 @Kaisando Hall, Portrait Statue of Roben, free

On this day a commemoration ceremony for Roben, the first Chief Abbot of Todaiji Temple, is held. After the ceremony a statue of Roben is out for the public viewing. National Treasure. Usually not open to the public.

2) 8:00-16:30 @Sangatsudo Hall, Shukongo-jin Statue, 500yen

Shukongo-jin is a deva protecting Buddhism. National Treasure. Usually not open to the public.

3)11:00-16:00 @Shunjo-do, Portrait Statue of Chogen, 500yen

Chogen is a monk who made a great contribution to Todaiji Temple. National Treasure. Usually not open to the public.

Dec. 31 (fri) Ooharaeshiki in Kasuga Grand Shrine

15:00~ @ Haraedo Shrine near the second torii gate

A purification ceremony. Purifies body and soul to welcome a new year in a fresh state.

Dec. 31 (fri) Joyanokane

Joyanokane is the bell that rings out the old year. The bells are struck on the New Year’s Eve at many temples throughout the country.

24:00~ @Todaiji Temple

Fisrt 800 people on a line can ring a bell. A numbered ticket is handed out near the belfry from around 23:00. Stay in the line, until you ring the bell. If you leave the line, you cannot strike the bell even if you have a ticket.

The bell of Todaiji Temple weights 26tons. You ring out the bell with a group of 8 people!

23:30~ @Kofukuji Temple

Fisrt 200 people can ring a bell. A numbered ticket is handed out from 23:00.

Other area:

Dec. 8 (wed) Ominugui in Horyuji Temple

10:00~ @ Golden Hall, Lecture Hall and the Hall of Dream

Cleaning of Buddhist statues before a new year

Dec 15 (wed) Ominugui in Toshodaiji Temple

9:00~ @ Golden Hall

Cleaning of Buddhist statues before a new year

Dec. 29 (wed) Ominugui in Yakushiji Temple

13:00~ @ Golden Hall and other halls

Cleaning of Buddhist statues before a new year

In the morning mochi (sticky rice cake) for a new year is made. Hot water used to pound mochi is reused to clean statues.

Dec. 31 (fri) All-night-long Sutra Copying in Yakushiji Temple

20:00~ @Sutra Copying Hall, 2000yen~

A peaceful way to end/start a year

Dec. 31 (fri) Joyanokane

Joyanokane is the bell that rings out the old year. The bells are struck on the New Year’s Eve at many temples throughout the country.

23:45~ @Saidaiji Temple

Everyone who wishes to ring a bell can do so.

23:30~ @Toshodaiji Temple

Fisrt 108 people can ring a bell. A numbered ticket is handed out at the entrance from 23:00.

23:30~ @Yakushiji Temple

Everyone who wishes to ring a bell can do so. A numbered ticket is handed out at Higashisobo (east monk’s dormitory) from 23:00. You ring a bell with a group of 5 people. Early strikers may receive mochi, sticky rice cakes.

Sue
-NARAWALK guide

Crepe myrtle

What kinds of flowers do you think when hearing the word of mid summer?
Morning glory and sunflower are very popular in Japan.

The blossoms of this photo are crepe myrtle.
They are at their best in the garden of New Public Hall near Todaiji Temple.
This tree is called "sarusuberi" in Japanese.
It means that even monkey("saru" ) may slip from ("suberu") the tree due to its slippery surface of the trunk.
You can enjoy white or light purple blossoms as well as vivid pink ones for about 100 days.

They look very cute.
No wonder the language of flowers is eloquence and amiability!


Yoko
-NARAWALK guide

the Bon fire

Kyoto's Gion festival marks the start of summer (especially for people in Kyoto). With Bon fire, people feel the end of summer is approaching.

During Bon (usually in mid Aug.), ancestors have a summer visit to this world, and with Bon fire we send off our ancestors to the other world.

In Nara, this Bon fire is lit on Aug. 15 at Mt. Takamado. 108 fire beds are lined in the shape of "大(dai)" - a Kanji character that symbolizes "universe." You can observe this Bon fire from mostly anywhere in Nara Park.

Date: Aug. 15
20:00~ light up at Mt. Takamado
20:00~ concert by Nara city firefighters musical band at Tobihino in Nara Park

Also on this day!
19:00~22:00 about 2500 lanterns light up Great Buddha Hall at Todaiji Temple
* free admission to Great Buddha Hall during light up

Also on Aug. 15&14!
19:00~21:30 more than 2000 lanterns light up the precinct of Kasuga Grand Shire

Before going to these traditions, get to know the city and roads while the sun is up -by joining morning Nara Walk tours!

Sue
-NARAWALK guide

Toilet for samurai?!

This is a sign found at a public lavatory in Kyoto indicating men's room.


As you can see the man in the picture is dressed in Kimono...looking a bit like Samurai... Well, no worry, you don't need to be a samurai to use a public lavatory in Kyoto, but in Nara there is an interesting rule to use a public lavatory. Which is you need to be a human! Public lavatories around Nara Park have a gate to prevent deer coming inside and eat toilet papers.

When you have a chance to use one in Nara, please remember to close the gate, or you might be sharing your very private time with deer...

Sue
-NARAWALK guide

P.S. For your interest, the public lavatory with samurai sign is located near Sanjusangendo Temple.

How to guard the Heijo Palace

Heijo Palace was the palace existed 1300 years ago in Nara. It was a place where Royal family lived and also where the government offices were. And sure there were guards to protect the palace.

Now these guards are back in Heijo Palace Site wearing traditional guard costumes. Everyday in the morning and at the end of the day, guards open and close the main gate into the palace, Suzaku Gate.

I had a chance to video their performance to close the gate. You can hear the voice explaining the performance in Japanese, English, Chinese and Korean in the video. Enjoy the video, or better yet come to Nara to enjoy live show. You can watch this performance everyday till Nov 7, 2010 in Heijo Palace Site in Nara.



Sue
-NARAWALK guide

The 1300th year

This year marks the 1300th year of Nara becoming the capital of Japan. Nara is celebrating this occasion. The main venue, Heijo Palace Site, opens tomorrow on April 24 and will be opened till Nov 7, 2010. Here is a little review of what you can experience at the site.

TO SEE:
・Reconstructed palace buildings - Suzaku Gate, Imperial Audience Hall, East Palace Garden
*East Palace Garden is said to be the origin of Japanese Garden.

・Reconstructed Japanese diplomatic ship.
*Can broad the ship.

TO DO:*Most attractions are free for foreigners with a presentation of passports.
・Dress in Tnnpyo-style clothing - dresses Japanese wore before Kimono.

・Get a guide and walk around - there will be English speaking volunteer guides (limited in number). Also self-guiding system using iPod (for rent) is organized to walk on your own. Or better book a Nara Walk guide!
*Heijo Palace Site is registered as a World Heritage Site, but the heritage is under the ground. A guide is recommended to understand and appreciate the place. The site is about 130ha. Be ready to walk.
*self-guiding system using iPod is available in English, French, Chinese and Korean.

・East Nara cuisine - there will be food courts and souvenir shops selling Nara's tastes.

TRANSPORTATION:
・Free shuttle buses running between JR Nara Station/ Kintetsu Yamato Saidaiji Station and the Heijo Palace Site.
・The palace site is about 15min walk form Kintetsu Yamato Saidaiji Station (second stop form Kintetsu Nara Station).

・～・・～・・～・・～・・～・・～・・～・・～・・～・・～・・～・・～・・～・・～・

Some of Nara Walk member are working as a staff at the information centre of the Heijo Palace Site. Hope we have a chance to see you at the palace site!

Sue
-NARAWALK guide