{"version":"1.0","provider_name":"UraUraTour","provider_url":"https:\/\/urauratour.com\/en","author_name":"UraUraTour","author_url":"https:\/\/urauratour.com\/en\/guide\/urauratour","title":"[March 12th, 2027 Only!] Sacred \u201cOmizutori\u201d Ceremony \u2013 Welcoming Spring at Todai-ji Temple \u2013 [Limited to 8 guests per car] - UraUraTour","type":"rich","width":600,"height":338,"html":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"C6q897CEl2\"><a href=\"https:\/\/urauratour.com\/en\/plan\/jp-kyo-0088-jp\">[March 12th, 2027 Only!] Sacred \u201cOmizutori\u201d Ceremony \u2013 Welcoming Spring at Todai-ji Temple \u2013 [Limited to 8 guests per car]<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/urauratour.com\/en\/plan\/jp-kyo-0088-jp\/embed#?secret=C6q897CEl2\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" title=\"&#8220;[March 12th, 2027 Only!] Sacred \u201cOmizutori\u201d Ceremony \u2013 Welcoming Spring at Todai-ji Temple \u2013 [Limited to 8 guests per car]&#8221; &#8212; UraUraTour\" data-secret=\"C6q897CEl2\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script>\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!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);\n\/\/# sourceURL=https:\/\/urauratour.com\/wp-includes\/js\/wp-embed.min.js\n<\/script>\n","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/urauratour.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/todaijiIMG_8954.jpg","thumbnail_width":1600,"thumbnail_height":1200,"description":"In the early hours of March 13, the ancient ritual known as \"Omizutori\" takes place at Nigatsu-do Hall, part of Nara\u2019s 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 \u2014 the \"Omizutori\" procession.  Shunie is formally known as the \"J\u016bichimen Keka H\u014dy\u014d\" \u2014 a repentance ceremony in which eleven monks, known as \"Rengy\u014dsh\u016b\", 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 (k\u014dsui) to be offered at the altar.  Join us to experience this profound tradition firsthand \u2014 a moment of reflection, reverence, and renewal."}