Ceremony of Cleaning Great Buddha

Once a year, Great Buddha at Todai-ji Temple takes a bath on August 7th.
About 150 priests, worshipers and volunteers clad in white gather to clean the Great Buddha and collect at least 10 buckets of dust.

You might think "Is this A Voyage to Lilliput in Gulliver's Travels"??

This is a good chance to see in person how huge the Buddha is! The Great Buddha is the largest bronze Buddhist statue in the world. Originally Buddha statue was cast in 752.

Enjoy Sunset in February Hall!

February Hall of Todai-ji Temple, which dates back to 752, is a popular sunset viewing spot. The hall stands on the hill overlooking Nara City and Ikoma mountains.

The hall is open all day long.

At night, all the lanterns are lit
 and the atmosphere gets subtle and profound.

Autumn Sky in Nara Park

Pampas grasses are reaching for autumn sky.
Dusk in Nara Park
Nara City is a blaze in a sunset.

Events around Nara Park (September 2011)

Around Nara Park:

Sept. 12(mon) Uneme Festival (Uneme Matsuri)
@Uneme Shrine by Sarusawa Pond
See a related entry for details: click here

Sept. 17(sat) The 17th Night (Jyuhichiya)
@February Hall in Todaiji Temple
18:00 ~ Ritual ceremony
18:30 ~ 21:00 Local Folk Dances (Bon Odori Dance)
18:30 ~ 21:00 February Hall area lit up with ca. 400 lanterns
17th day of a month is dedicated to a Buddhist saint, Kannon Bodhisattva. August 17th in the lunar calendar, which is roughly September 17th in the solar calendar, is especially celebrated. On this day, Todaiji Temple holds a ritual ceremony for Kannnon Bodhisattva at February Hall. After the ceremony and outside of the hall, there will be a crowd of people dancing local folk dances. Everyone is welcome to join the dance.

Sept. 17(sat) Live Charity Piano Concert by Suguru Matsutani
@ on a stage in front of Nara National Museum
See related entry for details: click here

Sept. 18(sun) Sake Festival 2011 by the Brewery of Harushika
10:00 ~ 16:00 @ S. Imanishi Co., Ltd in Naramachi area
Harushika is a popular local Sake brand brewed in old town area of Nara, Naramachi, by S. Imanishi Co., Ltd. This is the local sake brewery that we visit during our Afternoon Old Town Stroll for optional Sake-tasting. Sake Festival is admission free.

(Scheduled events at the Sake Festival)
=Special Sake you can buy only on this day at the brewery. (There will be a free Sake-tasting of this special Sake.)
=See Sake brewery. They open their actual workplace to brew Sake to visitors. (They are not brewing Sake at this time of year.)
=Food booths by local shops.
=A booth by Unicef. Part of proceeds of Sake Festival goes to Unicef.
...and more!

Sept. 19(mon) Longevity Festival (Chojyu-sai)
13:00 ~ @ Kasuga Grand Shrine
Third Monday of September, Sept. 19 for this year, is Respect-for-the-Aged Day. It is a day to thank elder members of society. On this day, Kasuga Grand Shrine offers Bugaku, traditional music and dance, to deities praying for longevity of elder people.

Sept. 17(sat) ~18(sun), Sept. 23(fri) ~ 25(sun) Night Time Opening of Kofukuji Temple National Treasure Hall
~ 20:30 @ National Treasure Hall in Kofukuji Temple
During these days, National Treasure Hall in Kofukuji Temple is open till 20:30.

Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays in Sept. Night Time Opening of Kofukuji Temple Eastern Golden Hall
17:00 ~ 19:30 @Eastern Golden Hall in Kofukuji Temple
Eastern Golden Hall in Kofukuji Temple is open till 19:30 on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays in September.

Around Horyuji Temple and Nishino-kyo:

Sept. 12(mon) View Buddhist Statues Under the Moon of the Year (Kangetsu Bussan-e)
18:00 ~ 21:00 @Toshodaiji Temple
Moon around this time of year is thought to be most beautiful. It’s a season for moon viewing parties. At Toshodaiji Temple, they specially open the temple at night to view the moon with their masterpiece Buddhist statues. Admission to the temple is free. Admission to Mieido Hall is 500 yen.

Sue
-NARAWALK guide   

Charity Piano Concert by Suguru Matsutani

Suguru Matsutani has written music for many Japanese movies, TV programs and TV commercials. If you were to travel to Japan and turn on TV, probably you’ll hear one of his music. This piano concert is a charity concert trying to raise funds to save cultural properties damaged in March 11 Earthquake in Tohoku, Japan. 

Sept. 17(sat)
@ on a stage in front of Nara National Museum
18:00 ~ Admission starts. (Concert is Free of charge.)
18:30 ~ Concert begins.
Concert is cancelled if the weather is stormy.

Sue
-NARAWALK guide   

Uneme Festival

Uneme Festival is a festival to console the soul of a heartbroken woman, Uneme. Once upon a time, there was a maiden called Uneme who fell in love with an emperor and then who eventually lost his love... What happened to her afterwards? Ask our guides during our daily tours! 

Sept. 12(mon) Uneme Festival (Uneme Matsuri)
@Uneme Shrine by Sarusawa Pond

17:00 ~ Procession of people in traditional costumes
 (JR Nara Station ~ Sanjo-dori St. ~ Higashimuki-dori St. ~ Oomiya-dori St. ~ Konishi Sakura-dori St. ~ Mochiidono-dori St. ~ Sanjo-dori St. ~ Sarusawa Pond ~ Uneme Shrine)
18:00 ~ Ritual Ceremony, Offering of Flowery Fan to Uneme Shrine
19:00 ~ Miss Uneme and Miss Nara ride on a boat to throw a flowery fan into Sarusawa Pond. There will be musicians on a boat playing traditional court music.

Sue
-NARAWALK guide  

Get Coupons at Visit Japan 2011

Visit Japan 2011 is a web site run by JAPAN Tourism Agency. Including NARA WALK, over 4000 shops and companies have listed their shop/company information in Visit Japan web site. All shops and companies listed in Visit Japan web site offer deals (ex. discount offers, a small gift, etc) to those who have Visit Japan Coupons.

NARA WALK offers a discount on our two daily tours, Daily Nara Park Classic Tour and Daily Great Buddha Tour. To get discounts, present a Visit Japan Coupon to our guide when you join our daily tours. Coupons are accepted from September 1 - November 30, 2011.

Visit Japan 2011: Daily Nara Park Classic Tour page
Visit Japan 2011: Daily Great Buddha Tour page
Visit Japan 2011: Coupon Download page

Sue
-NARAWALK guide