[1-Day Event: Mon., Jan. 8] Fire-walking Ritual in Onomichi

If you are staying in Japan around the New Year, visit a shrine or temple.

On Hatsumoude, residents of Japan visit nearby shrines and temples at some point on or following New Year’s Day. We do this to say our thanks for a safe and successful last year and to greet the Shinto deities and Buddha so the new year will also be safe and prosperous.

It does not matter whether you go to a shrine or a temple. While this may seem strange because shrines and temples belong to different religions, they had been blended in Japan for centuries until the Meiji era (1868-1912).

At Saikokuji Temple in Onomichi, a fire-walking ritual is held on January 8 to pray for good health, a safe family, a prosperous business, and more.

If you want to write your own wish on a wooden gomagi prayer stick, come to the shrine office by 10:30 a.m. to apply.

Monks are followed by mountain priests, then believers as they cross barefoot while chanting in the hopes that their desires will be fulfilled.

You are free to join this experience if you want.

Don’t worry. The flames will have calmed down considerably by the time you cross them.

If you wish to join in, please apply at the reception on the day. The fee is ¥1500 and includes a sacred gohei staff with pendant stripes of cut paper and headband.

If you want to try, I recommend bringing a towel to wipe your feet.

◆Date & Time: from 11:00 a.m., Monday, January 8, 2024

◆Fee: ¥1500 to join the fire walk

◆Location: Saikokuji Temple (29-27 Nishikubo-cho, Onomichi, Hiroshima)
◆Access: Get off at the bus stop Saikokujishita from Onomichi station and walk for five minutes.

(You may want to use an extension to translate pages in Japanese)

If you are interested in joining a tour to visit this event, please check this page also.
Seven-Temple Tour with Fire-walking Ritual Event! (Onomichi)