1.0UraUraTourhttps://urauratour.com/enUraUraTourhttps://urauratour.com/en/guide/urauratourrich600338<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="0dNNguaM2D"><a href="https://urauratour.com/en/plan/jp-nra-0004-jp">★Confirmed★ [March 12th, 2027 Only!] Sacred “Omizutori” Ceremony – Welcoming Spring at Todai-ji Temple – [Starts and Ends at Kintetsu Nara Station]</a></blockquote><iframe sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" src="https://urauratour.com/en/plan/jp-nra-0004-jp/embed#?secret=0dNNguaM2D" width="600" height="338" title="“★Confirmed★ [March 12th, 2027 Only!] Sacred “Omizutori” Ceremony – Welcoming Spring at Todai-ji Temple – [Starts and Ends at Kintetsu Nara Station]” — UraUraTour" data-secret="0dNNguaM2D" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" class="wp-embedded-content"></iframe><script> /*! This file is auto-generated */ !function(d,l){"use strict";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&"undefined"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!/[^a-zA-Z0-9]/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),c=new RegExp("^https?:$","i"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display="none";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute("style"),"height"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):"link"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute("src")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener("message",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll("iframe.wp-embedded-content"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute("data-secret"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+="#?secret="+t,e.setAttribute("data-secret",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:"ready",secret:t},"*")},!1)))}(window,document); //# sourceURL=https://urauratour.com/wp-includes/js/wp-embed.min.js </script> https://urauratour.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/IMG_20240313_023347-1024x577-1.jpg1024577In the early hours of March 13, the ancient ritual known as "Omizutori" takes place at Nigatsu-do Hall, part of Nara’s historic Todai-ji Temple. This ceremony marks the arrival of spring and has been performed uninterrupted for over 1,300 years. The broader ritual is called "Shunie", and the most well-known part is the "Otaimatsu", where giant torches shower sparks over the temple balcony in a dramatic display. This fiery spectacle is often featured in media and draws large crowds. However, this tour invites you to witness a lesser-known but deeply spiritual moment — the "Omizutori" procession. Shunie is formally known as the "Jūichimen Keka Hōyō" — a repentance ceremony in which eleven monks, known as "Rengyōshū", offer prayers to the Eleven-Faced Kannon Bodhisattva, seeking forgiveness for human misdeeds and blessings for all. Around 1:30 AM, monks descend the stone steps toward the sacred Wakasai Well, accompanied by torchlight and traditional court music (gagaku). The well is housed within a building that only designated officials may enter; its interior remains unseen, and the ritual is performed in darkness. The monks make three solemn trips between the well and Nigatsu-do, carrying the sacred water (kōsui) to be offered at the altar. Join us to experience this profound tradition firsthand — a moment of reflection, reverence, and renewal.