“Since 752 AD, monks have carried torches here every March at midnight.”
The Nigatsudo Hall of Todaiji Temple in Nara is famous for the annual shuni-e ceremony. In this set of rituals, the monks reflect on the destructive behavior that they and others engage in their daily lives and pray to Kannon bodhisattva whom the hall is dedicated to for everyone's happiness. The shuni-e ceremony is particularly famous for the omizutori or Water Ceremony where sacred water is taken from a well and offered to Kannon. The Nigatsudo Hall has been designated a national treasure and features two statues of the eleven-faced Kannon, which are secret Buddha statues that are not shown to the public. The name Nigatsudo literally means Hall of the second month and refers to the shuni-e ceremony which is traditionally held in the second month of the lunar calendar.
Photograph provided by Nara City Tourism Association
| Spot Name | Nigatsudo Hall |
|---|---|
| Postal Code | 〒630-8587 |
| Address | 406-1, Zoshicho, Nara |
| Telephone Number | 0742-22-5511 |
| Official URL | http://www.todaiji.or.jp/contents/guidance/guidance6.html |
| Keywords | History |
Approx. ¥8,000 / guest
Approx. ¥20,000 / guest
Approx. ¥6,000 / guest
Approx. ¥16,000 / guest
Approx. ¥40,000 / guest
Approx. ¥22,000 / guest
I visited this spot in autumn. Few people visited here compared with the horde of people in Nara Koen Park nearby. There is a large ginkgo near the hall which is gorgeous in autumn. The hall is at a relatively high place so going uphill for a certain distance is necessary to reach the hall. But climbing the hall, you can see half of the panorama of Nara. Generally it is a good place to visit if you have enough time and don’t want to squeeze with crowds in the park.
