{"id":28410,"date":"2020-09-16T14:37:15","date_gmt":"2020-09-16T13:37:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/?p=28410"},"modified":"2025-03-19T09:43:30","modified_gmt":"2025-03-19T09:43:30","slug":"the-circle-of-life-rituals-celebrations-and-festivals-in-japan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2020\/09\/16\/the-circle-of-life-rituals-celebrations-and-festivals-in-japan\/","title":{"rendered":"The Circle of Life \u2013 Rituals, Celebrations and Festivals in Japan"},"content":{"rendered":"<h4>Like this post? Help us by sharing it!<\/h4><ul class=\"wpfai-list\"><li class=\"wpfai-list-item facebook\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F28410&amp;t=\" title=\"Facebook\" class=\"wpfai-facebook wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-facebook fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item twitter\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/share?text=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F28410\" title=\"Twitter\" class=\"wpfai-twitter wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-twitter fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item pinterest\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F28410&amp;description=&amp;media=\" title=\"Pinterest\" class=\"wpfai-pinterest wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-pinterest fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item linkedin\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F28410&amp;title=\" title=\"Linked In\" class=\"wpfai-linkedin wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-linkedin fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item envelope\">\r\n      <a href=\"mailto:?subject=&amp;body=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F28410%20-%20\" title=\"E-Mail\" class=\"wpfai-envelope wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-envelope fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item stumbleupon\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.stumbleupon.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F28410\" title=\"Stumble Upon\" class=\"wpfai-stumbleupon wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-stumbleupon fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item reddit\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.reddit.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F28410\" title=\"Reddit\" class=\"wpfai-reddit wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-reddit fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><\/ul><p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Circle of Life \u2013 Rituals, Celebrations and Festivals in Japan\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Xk1n-g-ixnk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2>Seasons and cycles<\/h2>\n<p>Living in Japan, I\u2019ve been flabbergasted a number of times when someone has asked, in all seriousness, if my home country of England has the same cycle of four seasons as Japan. It&#8217;s something the Japanese hold as unique and prized.<\/p>\n<p>While politely pointing out that Japan is not alone in recognising the passage of four distinct seasons, you have to admit the seasonal changes here have a more dramatic flair. I live in Kyoto \u2013 and when the mercury hits 39\u00b0C in the summer, it&#8217;s hard to recall the thick blanket of snow that comes with winter. The spring and autumn seasons, with their famous cherry blossoms and autumn leaves respectively, bring their own concrete distinctions. The ensuing appreciation, sometimes even verging on fetishisation, of the seasons in Japan has had a wide-ranging effect on the country&#8217;s literature, art, and the cycle of annual observances.<\/p>\n<p>Life in Japan places a unique emphasis on cycles; whether it be on the journey from birth to death, the annual round of the seasons, or the monthly (and even daily) observances at Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples across the country.<\/p>\n<h2>New Year in Japan<\/h2>\n<p>New Year is perhaps the most important family occasion in Japan, when people travel back to their hometowns to be with their families. The mass exodus from Tokyo by air, rail and road makes the news every year, with hours of backed up traffic congestion on the way out of the capital \u2013 and then the reverse a few days later.<\/p>\n<p>The festivities begin on New Year\u2019s Eve, when families often visit a Buddhist temple to listen to the huge bell being rung 108 times; one toll to cleanse each of the defilements that we have, according to Buddhist teachings. At some point over the next three days the family will likely visit a Shinto shrine for \u2018<em>hatsumode<\/em>\u2019: the first shrine visit of the new year. Visitors pray for health and happiness in the year to come, and will most likely pay to receive an \u2018<em>omikuji<\/em>\u2019, a randomly drawn slip of paper which tells your fortune.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_28569\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-28569\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-28569 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Hatsumode_at_Shimogamo-Shrine-Kyoto-720x494.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"494\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Hatsumode_at_Shimogamo-Shrine-Kyoto-720x494.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Hatsumode_at_Shimogamo-Shrine-Kyoto-300x206.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Hatsumode_at_Shimogamo-Shrine-Kyoto-1024x702.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Hatsumode_at_Shimogamo-Shrine-Kyoto-768x527.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Hatsumode_at_Shimogamo-Shrine-Kyoto-564x387.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Hatsumode_at_Shimogamo-Shrine-Kyoto-1536x1053.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Hatsumode_at_Shimogamo-Shrine-Kyoto-2048x1404.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Hatsumode_at_Shimogamo-Shrine-Kyoto-1200x823.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Hatsumode_at_Shimogamo-Shrine-Kyoto-900x617.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Hatsumode_at_Shimogamo-Shrine-Kyoto-1440x987.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Hatsumode_at_Shimogamo-Shrine-Kyoto-390x267.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Hatsumode_at_Shimogamo-Shrine-Kyoto-780x535.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Hatsumode_at_Shimogamo-Shrine-Kyoto-510x350.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-28569\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Hatsumode at Shimogamo Shrine, Kyoto<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>New Year superstitions<\/h2>\n<p>Almost all shrines and temples in Japan sell \u2018<em>omamori<\/em>\u2019, a kind of lucky amulet contained in a small fabric pouch. In a rather business-savvy move, the religious establishments in Japan insist that these charms \u2018expire\u2019 after a year, so it\u2019s traditional to take your old ones back to where you bought them at New Year, where they are ritually burned, and to purchase new \u2018fresh\u2019 ones. You can buy <em>omamori<\/em> tailored to life\u2019s hurdles like passing examinations, safe childbirth or job hunting.<\/p>\n<p>Good health for the year ahead is always a prime concern, and many temples and shrines hold special festivals during the first weeks of the year with this in mind. The Hoju-ji and Rokuharamitsu-ji temples in Kyoto both draw huge crowds in early January. People visit to partake of the magical radish soup and pickled plum tea, both believed to protect the body from illness in the year ahead.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_28548\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-28548\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-28548 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/IMG_0293-720x540.jpg\" alt=\"Japanese Lucky Charms, insideJapan\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/IMG_0293-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/IMG_0293-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/IMG_0293-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/IMG_0293-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/IMG_0293-564x423.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/IMG_0293-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/IMG_0293-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/IMG_0293-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/IMG_0293-900x675.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/IMG_0293-1440x1080.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/IMG_0293-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/IMG_0293-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/IMG_0293-510x383.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-28548\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Omamori<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Even your dreams on the night of New Year\u2019s Day are said to have a predictive effect on the year ahead. Known as \u2018<em>hatsuyume<\/em>\u2019, meaning \u2018first dream\u2019, it\u2019s considered to be particularly auspicious to dream of Mt Fuji, eagles, and aubergines! Decorative hanging scrolls hung in households at New Year often contain one or all of these motifs, perhaps in an effort to influence your dream state.<\/p>\n<h2>Setsubun<\/h2>\n<p>The next major seasonal festival in Japan is Setsubun on February 3rd. This festival traditionally marked the beginning of spring, according to the lunar calendar \u2013 although according to the modern calendar, it still feels decidedly wintery.<\/p>\n<p>The most famous Setsubun tradition is called \u2018<em>mamemaki<\/em>\u2019, or \u2018bean scattering\u2019, where the male head of the household dresses up as a demon. Other members of his family then throw dried soybeans at him while shouting \u2018Demons Out, Good Luck In!\u2019. Many temples and shrines in Japan stage large-scale performances of this ritual, where people try to catch the beans to take home for good luck.<\/p>\n<h2>Obon<\/h2>\n<p>The mid-August Obon festival of the ancestors is perhaps second only to New Year&#8217;s in importance in Japan. It&#8217;s the only other time of year that sees a mass exodus out of the major cities as people return to their hometowns and villages.<\/p>\n<p>At Obon, the spirits of the deceased are thought to return to this world for a short time, and are greeted and hosted by their descendants. Families will go together to their parish temple to clean and decorate their ancestral grave. Larger households that have a Buddhist altar in their homes will invite a priest to come to their house to perform a memorial service. Many of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/experience-japan\/exp-13\/festivals\/\">Japan\u2019s major festivals<\/a> take place at this time of year, in mid-summer, and will often incorporate a \u2018Bon-Odori\u2019 where the whole town comes dressed in their <em>yukata<\/em>, a light cotton kimono, to perform a rhythmic dance around a central stage accompanied by traditional music.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_28572\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-28572\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-28572 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Tanukidanisan-Fudoin-720x540.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Tanukidanisan-Fudoin-720x540.jpeg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Tanukidanisan-Fudoin-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Tanukidanisan-Fudoin-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Tanukidanisan-Fudoin-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Tanukidanisan-Fudoin-564x423.jpeg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Tanukidanisan-Fudoin-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Tanukidanisan-Fudoin-2048x1536.jpeg 2048w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Tanukidanisan-Fudoin-1200x900.jpeg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Tanukidanisan-Fudoin-900x675.jpeg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Tanukidanisan-Fudoin-1440x1080.jpeg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Tanukidanisan-Fudoin-390x293.jpeg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Tanukidanisan-Fudoin-780x585.jpeg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Tanukidanisan-Fudoin-510x383.jpeg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-28572\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fire ritual at Tanukidanisan Fudoin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In Kyoto, August 16th is the \u2018Daimonji\u2019 festival, which marks the end of Obon. During this festival, five huge bonfires are lit on the mountainside surrounding the city, guiding the spirits of the ancestors home.<\/p>\n<h2>Christmas<\/h2>\n<p>Although related to neither Buddhism or Shinto, Christmas also sees its fair share of festivity in contemporary Japan, although mainly of a secular and commercialised nature. Christmas Eve has become something of a second Valentine\u2019s Day, so anyone hoping to secure a table at a nice restaurant at the last minute will likely be disappointed! Due to very clever marketing, KFC has also managed to convince the entire nation that tradition dictates ordering a large bucket of fried chicken on Christmas Day. It\u2019s so popular, you need to make a pick-up reservation weeks in advance!<\/p>\n<h2>Ennichi<\/h2>\n<p>Some major Buddhist and Shinto deities have an \u2018<em>ennichi<\/em>\u2019, a day in which their influence is thought to be most powerful. For me personally, the 28th of each month holds a special place in my heart. It\u2019s the <em>ennichi<\/em> of my favourite Buddhist deity, Fudo Myoo. He\u2019s a rather wrathful looking chap, but deep down he\u2019s a big softy!<\/p>\n<p>At Tanukidani Fudo-in, my favourite temple in Kyoto (which enshrines Fudo Myoo as the main deity), there is a special service on the 28th of each month. Of these services, the most impressive takes place annually on July 28th. Mountain ascetic priests perform a fire ceremony in the central courtyard, which involves the practice of \u2018fire walking\u2019 across burning embers. After the embers have died down to an appropriate level, members of the public are invited to traverse the flames. Not for the faint of heart!<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_28575\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-28575\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-28575 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Fudo-Myoo-720x540.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Fudo-Myoo-720x540.jpeg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Fudo-Myoo-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Fudo-Myoo-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Fudo-Myoo-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Fudo-Myoo-564x423.jpeg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Fudo-Myoo-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Fudo-Myoo-2048x1536.jpeg 2048w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Fudo-Myoo-1200x900.jpeg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Fudo-Myoo-900x675.jpeg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Fudo-Myoo-1440x1080.jpeg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Fudo-Myoo-390x293.jpeg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Fudo-Myoo-780x585.jpeg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Fudo-Myoo-510x383.jpeg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-28575\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Richard Farmer at Fudo Myoo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Daily rituals<\/h2>\n<p>For many in Japan, ritual cycles also take place on a daily basis. Many of the older generation, who tend to be more devout, begin each day in front of their household Buddhist altar. Lighting a candle and some incense, they spend a few minutes praying, with deceased family members being the main focus of contemplation.<\/p>\n<p>Outside of the home, at large temples such as Zenko-ji in Nagano, it\u2019s not uncommon to see worshippers attending the main service every day \u2013 which is held at an ungodly hour of the morning! Even in large cities such as Tokyo or Osaka, one will often see a suited office worker with their briefcase make their regular 60-second stop at a Shinto shrine along the route to the office; likely praying that their next business deal will be a success!<\/p>\n<h2>The Shikoku Henro<\/h2>\n<p>As a tour leader in a country with no tourists, I\u2019ve found the time to attend to something that\u2019s long been on my bucket list: the Shikoku Henro. Also known as the 88 Temple Pilgrimage, it\u2019s one of the oldest in the world. Forget going from A to B though \u2013 even this is cyclical in nature. There is no \u201cgoal\u201d; instead one travels 1,200km around the whole of Shikoku, the smallest of Japan\u2019s four main islands, to each of its 88 temples.<\/p>\n<p>It takes at least six weeks to complete on foot \u2013 but these days it\u2019s pretty acceptable to complete the pilgrimage by bicycle, car, or even coach tour. I\u2019ve been visiting each of the four prefectures of Shikoku one by one (and yes, I\u2019ll admit to doing it by car rather than on foot!).<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_28577\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-28577\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-28577 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Shikoku_pilgrim_Richard_F-720x960.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"960\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Shikoku_pilgrim_Richard_F-720x960.jpeg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Shikoku_pilgrim_Richard_F-225x300.jpeg 225w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Shikoku_pilgrim_Richard_F-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Shikoku_pilgrim_Richard_F-423x564.jpeg 423w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Shikoku_pilgrim_Richard_F-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Shikoku_pilgrim_Richard_F-1536x2048.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Shikoku_pilgrim_Richard_F-1200x1600.jpeg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Shikoku_pilgrim_Richard_F-900x1200.jpeg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Shikoku_pilgrim_Richard_F-1440x1920.jpeg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Shikoku_pilgrim_Richard_F-390x520.jpeg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Shikoku_pilgrim_Richard_F-780x1040.jpeg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Shikoku_pilgrim_Richard_F-510x680.jpeg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-28577\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Shikoku pilgrim<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>At one of the temples, I met Takahashi-san, a man in his late seventies who was completing the pilgrimage (on foot!) for the 15th time. It\u2019s traditional for walking pilgrims to use a wooden hiking stick with a bell on the end. Talking with Takahashi-san, I noticed that he was carrying two, something I\u2019d never seen before. The second had belonged to his wife, now deceased, with whom he had completed the pilgrimage a number of times in the past.<\/p>\n<p>I was incredibly moved by the fact that for Takahashi-san\u2019s wife, the cyclical nature of life in Japan hadn\u2019t ceased with the passing of her body, but that she continued to travel around and around Shikoku accompanying her husband on the route that they once traversed together.<\/p>\n<p>Along with Takahashi-san\u2019s wife, the spirits of the ancestors in Japan who continue to be worshipped each August during the Obon festival, or even daily at household Buddhist altars, continue to be a part of a never-ending cycle of reverence and remembrance; a cycle that their descendants will also join in time, and therefore one that never truly ends.<\/p>\n<h4>Like this post? Help us by sharing it!<\/h4><ul class=\"wpfai-list\"><li class=\"wpfai-list-item facebook\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F28410&amp;t=\" title=\"Facebook\" class=\"wpfai-facebook wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-facebook fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item twitter\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/share?text=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F28410\" title=\"Twitter\" class=\"wpfai-twitter wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-twitter fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item pinterest\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F28410&amp;description=&amp;media=\" title=\"Pinterest\" class=\"wpfai-pinterest wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-pinterest fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item linkedin\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F28410&amp;title=\" title=\"Linked In\" class=\"wpfai-linkedin wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-linkedin fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item envelope\">\r\n      <a href=\"mailto:?subject=&amp;body=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F28410%20-%20\" title=\"E-Mail\" class=\"wpfai-envelope wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-envelope fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item stumbleupon\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.stumbleupon.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F28410\" title=\"Stumble Upon\" class=\"wpfai-stumbleupon wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-stumbleupon fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item reddit\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.reddit.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F28410\" title=\"Reddit\" class=\"wpfai-reddit wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-reddit fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Like this post? Help us by sharing it! Seasons and cycles Living in Japan, I\u2019ve been flabbergasted a number of times when someone has asked, in all seriousness, if my home country of England has the same cycle of four seasons as Japan. It&#8217;s something the Japanese hold as unique and prized. While politely pointing [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":59,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_sitemap_exclude":false,"_sitemap_priority":"","_sitemap_frequency":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2365,2367],"tags":[1214,1508,1931,4826,4829,4832,4835],"class_list":["post-28410","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-festivals-events-in-japan","category-japanese-culture-and-history","tag-japanese-festivals","tag-festivals","tag-new-year","tag-new-year-japan","tag-obon","tag-rituals","tag-celebrations"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28410","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/59"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28410"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28410\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":34985,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28410\/revisions\/34985"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28410"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28410"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28410"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}