🏮 Adashino Nenbutsuji Sento Kuyo
化野念仏寺千灯供養
Kyoto (Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple) · Every year on 23 August
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Rooms around Kyoto fill up while the festival is on.
The Adashino Nenbutsu Temple Sen-to Kuyo is held every year on August 23 and 24 at Adashino Nenbutsu Temple in Sagano, Kyoto. It is a traditional event in which candles are lit to memorialize the thousands of unclaimed souls (muenbotoke) enshrined at the Saiin no Kawara within the temple grounds. Many of the stone Buddhas enshrined in the precinct are now unclaimed souls, but going back in time, they may be ancestors of visitors, and the candle lights are meant to console each soul. Candles are lit at 6:00 PM, and the memorial service continues until 9:00 PM. No reservation is required to attend. Participants receive a candle and a pamphlet for a cooperation fee of 1,000 yen (free for elementary school children and under), and can join in memorializing the unclaimed souls in the quiet space of the riverbank.
Getting there
From Kyoto Bus bound for Arashiyama and Kiyotaki, get off at "Toriimoto" and walk about 5 minutes. Alternatively, from City Bus 91 bound for Daikaku-ji, get off at "Saga Shaka-do" and walk about 15 minutes.
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