KYU-SHO-MIE-KU

KYU-SHO-MIE-KU is held on March 21st on lunar calendar to celebrate the Eve for the entry of  Kobo-Daishi's eternal meditation.  Many worshippers all over Japan gathered to meet Kobo-Daishi.  All the doors of the temple halls at Garan which are usually closed are open and priests standing in front of (~o~)them explain to the visitors.  People who want to enter MIEDO get the order ticket from 17:00 and they're guided by monks and get a honor to see Kobo-Daishi.

Today's Koyasan

It's been warm for these couple of days and it was lucky for me to drive up here to work with regular tires. 

Everyone living here greets each other what a warm day it is.  Actually, I don't feel chilly and feel like spring has come.

But the temperature is 2.3 degrees Celcius.  We feel cold enough down the mountain with that temperature!

Still there's much ice and snow in the shade.  Please do not make light of the mountain weather!

Stay warm and well prepared when you come.

Real Winter

Koyasan is a kind of exception of coldness while the weather in Wakayama where Koyasan is located is said to be warm and mild.

At this time of the year, people are really busy with wiping off snow from streets, front entrance and sometimes from the roof every morning so that visitors don't have　any difficulties walking in town. But encountering the strong cold front, it has been snowing hard since this morning and never stopped.

Since it is like dry snow like powdered sugar you can just wipe off from your clothes or shoes. Cars parked since this morning is totally covered with snow and no windows can be seen.

I could walk over the lotus pond which is thickly covered with ice and snow.
The weather forecast says the temperature will drop down tomorrow to -10 degree Celcius.

But it is definitely amazingly beautiful.

Winter Is Here！

It was really freezing in the morning but after the sun rose, we have had the beautiful blue sky! 

The weather in Wakayama is said to be warm and mild, so we seldom see snow but Koyasan.

You can make snowmen as big as you like, make snow angels and of course have some snow fight.

If you are well prepared, mountain trail can be enjoyed for a few hours with about 200-meter-difference of altitude.  

I can tell you how to enjoy Koyasan 200 percent!

SHUSHO-E

SHUSHO-E, the new year's ritual is being held on New Year's Day in Kondo, at GARAN.

With white freezing breath, the ritual is going on in a very serene atmosphere.

Rice Cake Scatter

In autumn in Koyasan, you may see many people gathering with some plastic bags or with a big apron spreading in front of the shrines. They are waiting for rice cake being scattered.
Appreciating the autumn harvest, they offer their harvest (mainly the products made of rice) in front of the shrine and share the great joy of the harvest.
So once you meet this occasion, why don't you try to join.
But I'm afraid you may be very surprised to see Japanese people having waited quietly for a long time suddenly changed into wild crowds only getting some rice cake.
Please protect yourself from excited Japanese who scramble for rice cake.

Hana-Matsuri, the Flower Festival

HANA-MATSURI, the Flower Festival is held to celebrate the Buddha(Shakyamuni)'s birthday today, on April 8th.
At Kongobuji, the head temple of Koyasan Shingon Buddhism, abbots gathered in the
main hall and hold the Buddhist Ceremony.
The alter decorated with colorful flowers holds a young Shakyamuni Buddha with his hand up in the pool of AMACHA, hydrangea tea inside.
After the ceremony offered for Buddha's birthday, his alter is placed in the hallway and any visitors celebrate his birthday with pouring (offering) hydrangea tea to the little Buddha.

The local kindergarten children as well visit Kongobuji and join this ceremony. They are all curious, line up in order and offering tea earnestly.



The visitors to the temple as well offered hydrangea tea served by wives of local temples.