🏮 Ichi Gatsu Seijin no Hi Sanjusangendo Daihoyo Toshiya

三十三間堂大法要通し矢

Kyoto (Sanjusangendo Temple) · Every year in mid January

120 days to go
Rooms around Kyoto fill up while the festival is on.

Every year in January, the Momote Archery Contest (Toshiya) is held at Sanjusangendo Temple in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto. About 2,000 archers gather from across the country for this kyudo (Japanese archery) event, where the formal attire of new adults adds a festive touch unique to the New Year. The contest is based on the Edo-period Toshiya (long-range archery) and is known as an event with a long history. The Yomogi no Okaji, held on the same day, is a Buddhist ceremony with traditions dating back to the Heian period, in which sacred water blessed by prayer is poured over worshippers using a yomogi branch considered a sacred tree, and is said to cure various illnesses. It is believed to be especially effective for headaches, and many people come to receive it. Both the archers' competition and the Yomogi no Okaji are highlights. In 2026, it is scheduled to be held on Sunday, January 18, from 9:00 to 15:30.