Encounter a new you by experiencing the secrets of Shingon Esoteric Buddhism
At the annual "Aizen Fire Festival" held at Eian-ji Temple, a temple associated with the Maeda family, you can have the precious experience of dressing up as a Yamabushi and participating in a Yamabushi procession and outdoor goma prayer with Shugenja, who have attained enlightenment through severe ascetic practices.
After the Buddhist service, visitors will walk barefoot over the hot ashes of the gomadan while chanting the mantra, "hiwatari," which will help them feel closer to nature and the gods and Buddha, and give them a chance to reflect on themselves.
Contents of Experience
June 7 (Saturday) 9:00-11:00 Preliminary meeting
Costume fitting, preliminary inspection of venue, etc.
June 8(Sunday) 9:00-13:30 Aizen Fire Festival
Costume change, Yamabushi procession (approx. 40 min.), Aizen Fire Festival (approx. 1.5 hrs.), Lunch
Eian-ji Temple
Eian-ji Temple is a separate head temple of the Daigo school of the Shingon sect, located on a small mountain overlooking downtown Kanazawa. The 10-meter high statue of Aizenmyoo is one of the tallest in Japan.
Yamabushi procession
The Yamabushi procession moves in two lines around the temple and within the temple grounds, blowing conch shells and chanting Buddhist sermons in front of the Jizo Hall and Benten Hall. The public participants in Yamabushi attire walk after the Yamabushi, including the predecessors carrying tin cans, Yamabushi holding wooden tags announcing the Shiba Daima Goma Kuyo, Yamabushi with swords, axes, and bows, and Yamabushi carrying boxes of wish literature. They enter the plaza where the fire festival will be held with Eianji temple's chief priest, who is the Aizen Fire Festival's leader.
Aizen Fire Festival
On the first Sunday of June every year, a grand goma prayer is held with Aizen Myoo, the deity of love fulfillment, marriage, and conjugal harmony, as the main deity. A wish is written on a piece of gomagi, incantations are chanted, and the gomagi is burned.
Fire-walking
While chanting the mantra, participants walk barefoot across the fire, which is still burning, to remove past bad luck and to bring new good fortune and happiness.
Information
- Organizer
- Eianji-Temple
See All Plans Run by this Travel Operator - Price
- 45,000yen
- Inclusions
- Yamabushi costume rental,
Lunch on the day of the Aizen Fire Festival,
red seal,
participation certificate,
photography fee,
Accident insurance - Date
- Preparation meeting June 7, 2025 (Sat) 9:00-11:00
Aizen Fire Festival June 8, 2025 (Sun.) 9:00-13:30 - Notes
- If you cannot attend the pre-meeting, we will be happy to discuss this on another day.
- Duration
- 2 days
- Location
- Eianji Temple
ki 1-7 Tateyama-machi,Kanazawa,Ishikawa 920-0956 - By Car
- Approx. 20 minutes from JR Kanazawa Station
- By Public Transportation
- From the East Exit of JR Kanazawa Station, take the Hokutetsu bus bound for Tobu Shako or Kanazawa Gakuin University, and get off at Eian-cho bus stop. Ride about 25 minutes.
Approximately 6 minutes walk from Eian-cho bus stop. - Parking Capacity
- 50
- Capacity
- 10
- Minimum Participants
- 1
- Reservation
- First-come-first-served basis
Reservation deadline May 29 - Website
- Official Site
Organizer
- Address
- ki 1-7 Tateyama-machi,Kanazawa,Ishikawa 920-0956
- Business Hours
- 8:00~19:00
- Phone
- 076-229-4470
- Website
- https://eianji.p-kit.com/
Map
Eianji Temple
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