Nara City Tourism Association

This traditional ceremony has been held annually at the Nigatsu-do Hall of Todaiji Temple for over 1,270 years. Monks known as Rengyōshū isolate themselves and repent before the eleven-faced Kannon Bodhisattva, the main deity of the Nigatsu-do Hall, praying for the nation's safety and societal welfare. The ceremony takes place over two weeks starting on March 1. However, it originally began on the first day of the second month of the lunisolar calendar, which gives rise to the name Shuni-e (meaning "Second-month Service"). This designation also explains why it is referred to as Nigatsu-do, meaning "Second-month Hall." 

Each night at 7:00 p.m. (7:30 p.m. on March 12 and 6:30 p.m. on March 14), selected believers escort the monks to climb the stairs to Nigatsu-do, carrying huge torches measuring 7 meters in length to provide light for the monks. After leading the monks, the believers continue to hold their torches while running along the balcony, showering sparks on the spectators below. This is the highlight of the ritual, known as Otaimatsu, a solemn and heroic ceremony.

Late at night on March 12, around 1:30 a.m. on March 13, a ceremony called Omizutori takes place to draw sacred water from the Wakasai Well, located beneath the Nigatsu-do Hall, and offer it to Kannon Bodhisattva. This ceremony has been a vital part of the lives of the Nara people since ancient times. After the Omizutori concludes, it is believed that spring arrives in Nara.

*Otaimatsu is performed every night during the ceremony period, but performance times and crowd levels may vary depending on the day. Please check the temple information in advance.