Omizutori

About this Attraction

Omizutori (お水取り), also known as the Shunie Ceremony, is one of Japan’s oldest and most revered Buddhist rituals. It is held annually at Nigatsudo Hall of Todaiji Temple in Nara. With a history spanning over 1,250 years, this sacred event has been conducted every March without interruption since the year 752. It marks the beginning of spring and serves as a spiritual cleansing for individuals and the nation.

The highlight of Omizutori is the spectacular Otaimatsu, or torch-bearing ritual, which takes place each night from March 1st to March 14th. Temple monks ignite enormous pine torches and carry them along the balcony of Nigatsudo Hall. As fiery embers rain down into the crowd below, receiving these sparks is believed to bring good health, purification, and protection from evil in the year ahead.

The final night, March 12, is the most anticipated, attracting thousands of spectators who come to witness the largest torches and the ceremony’s spiritual climax. The event also includes chanting, ritual prayers, and the symbolic drawing of sacred water (mizu) from a well beneath the temple, believed to have miraculous healing properties.

Omizutori is not just a fire show but a profound act of penance, renewal, and hope, deeply embedded in Japan’s religious traditions. Visitors are advised to arrive early, as the area fills quickly, and to dress warmly, as most of the ceremony occurs in the cool night air.

Experiencing Omizutori offers a powerful and unforgettable glimpse into Japan’s living spiritual heritage, blending light, devotion, and history in a truly magical setting.

Weather in next three days near this attraction

NARA WEATHER