[Nara] Nara Todai-ji Omizutori Half-Day Cultural Tour

[March 12th, 2027 Only!] In the early hours of March 13, the ancient ritual known as "Omizutori" takes place at Nigatsu-do Hall, part of Nara’s historic Todai-ji Temple. This ceremony marks the arrival of spring and has been performed uninterrupted for over 1,300 years. The broader ritual is called "Shunie", and the most well-known part is the "Otaimatsu", where giant torches shower sparks over the temple balcony in a dramatic display. Shunie is formally known as the "Jūichimen Keka Hōyō" — a repentance ceremony in which eleven monks, known as "Rengyōshū", offer prayers to the Eleven-Faced Kannon Bodhisattva, seeking forgiveness for human misdeeds and blessings for all. Join us to experience this profound tradition firsthand — a moment of reflection, reverence, and renewal.