Takisanji Temple Demon Festival | Okazaki City | Aichi Prefecture | Official Site | Sightseeing Information | Directions | Parking | Details | AichiNow-OFFICIAL SITE FOR TOURISM AICHI

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Okazaki-City Takisanji Temple Demon Festival

Date : 02/17/2024


  • Takisanji Temple Demon Festival
  • Takisanji Temple Demon Festival
  • Takisanji Temple Demon Festival
  • Takisanji Temple Demon Festival
  • Takisanji Temple Demon Festival
  • Takisanji Temple Demon Festival

Demons appear from the flames in one of Japan's strangest festivals

Takisanji Temple was constructed by order of Emperor Temmu to worship Bhaisajyaguru Buddha, or Yakushinyorai in Japanese, and was originally named Kichijoji Temple. The main hall and main gate of Kamakura-style construction; a statue of Boddhisatva Avalokiteśvara, or Kannon in Japanese, made to scale of Lord Minamoto Yoritomo's body size; and numerous other national important cultural properties can be seen throughout the temple's premises.

The Demon Festival is an event to pray for peace on Earth and a bountiful harvest. It is held on the evening of January 7 on the lunar calendar (the Saturday closest to January 7 on the lunar calendar). Its origins are said to have begun from a prayer by Lord Minamoto Yoritomo and it became an event of the shogunate from the third Tokugawa shogun's reign.
The festival begins with a parade of torches and half a day's worth of various rites. The climax comes during the Fire Festival, where more than 30 giant torches are brought to the main hall, lit on fire, and costumed demons dance wildly to the striking of bells and sounding of conch shells.

Demon Festival schedule

3:00 pm Torch parade
    A procession carrying giant torches 1 km to the main hall and venue for the Demon Festival from the main gate
5:30 pm Buddhist memorial service
    The head priest and others enter the main hall and perform a memorial service
6:20 pm Waves of gratitude
    Two from a group of twelve wave long swords before the alter to dispel evil. This is done first at Hiyoshisan'osha Shrine behind the main hall and next at Takisan Toshogu Shrine.
6:30 pm Onizuka Rock memorial service
    Roasted grains are spread around Onizuka Rock, a memorial to two monks who died unable to remove their demon masks.
6:35 pm Bean throwing
    Beans and cough drops are thrown at worshippers
7:00 pm Garden Festival
    Statements and agricultural gestures continuing from the Kamakura period are recreated here. The old-fashioned language too is from the Kamakura period.
7:45 pm Fire Festival
    A festival leaving onlookers speechless

EVENT OVERVIEW

  • Parking
Date : Sat, Feb 17, 2024
(Sat close to Jan 7 on the lunar calendar)
Place : Takisanji Temple Main Hall
Location : 〒444-3173
107 Yamagomori, Taki-cho, Okazaki-shi, Aichi
Parking : Available

Notes:
• Ryuhoku Park (former prefectural athletic ground) becomes available as a general parking lot with a shuttle bus.
Phone number : 0564-46-2296 (Takisanji Temple)

Note: This page may not be current due to update time differences between site databases.
Should accuracy be critical, please verify this information using a direct source, whenever possible.

ACCESS

  • Access by public transport
    Access by public transport
    From Higashi Okazaki Station on the Meitetsu Nagoya Line (board from Meitetsu Nagoya Station), take the Meitetsu Bus bound for Onuma. Then, get off at Takisanji-Shita Bus Stop.
  • Access by car
    Access by car
    Approx. 20 min. north from Okazaki Interchange on the Tomei Expressway via Routes 1, 26, 477, and 355.

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KeywordKeyword
#Takisanji Temple Demon Festival
#ogre
#fire festival
#Japanese temple
#Japanese shrine
#Mikawa
#Western Mikawa
#Okazaki

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