Event Calendar

April

  • 寺

    Hatsuyakushi (January 8th)

    The principal image of the temple, Yakushi Nyorai, is unveiled. Willow branches are used to ward off illness and pray for good health for the year.

  • 寺

    Great Prajna (January 13th)

    The 600 volumes of the Great Prajnaparamita Sutra are recited. More than 10 monks will offer prayers for the fulfillment of wishes. After the prayers, there will be a rice cake throwing ceremony.

  • Kushimoto

    The southernmost fire festival in Honshu (end of January)

    Shiba-yaki at Cape Shionomisaki, the southernmost point of Honshu. Fireworks and mochi digging are also available.

April

  • Mount Nachi

    Nachi Mountain Mystery Walk begins
    (Early February to early June)

    This is a limited-time tour that takes you to the inner reaches of Nachi Falls, Ninotaki Falls, and Sannotaki Falls, which are normally off-limits to the public.

  • Nachi Taisha Shrine

    Setsubun bean throwing (February 3rd)

    A bean-throwing event held at the change of seasons to ward off evil spirits and bring good fortune.

  • Shingu

    Lantern Festival (February 6th)

    The annual festival of Kamikura Shrine, located on top of a huge rocky mountain, is held. Men carrying torches run down the steep stairs at high speed. The flames descending the mountain look just like a flaming dragon.
    Any man can participate.

  • 寺

    Nirvana Ceremony (February 15th)

    An exhibition of hanging scrolls depicting the day Buddha passed away

April

  • Cherry blossoms bloom at Daitai-ji Temple (late March to early April)

April

  • 寺

    Bamboo shoot hunting begins

  • 寺

    Flower Festival (April 8th and the weekend before and after, for a total of 3 days)

    Buddha's Birthday: Free Sweet Tea

  • Ota / Irokawa

    Oku-Kumano Ultra Marathon (late April)

    A 100km marathon held near Daitai-ji Temple. It's popular because of the delicious food.

  • Ota no Sato

    Rice planting experience (late April)

    A rice planting experience event held at the Ota no Sato community center near Daitai-ji Temple.

April

  • 小阪

    Irokawa Rice Terraces Rice Planting Experience (mid-May)

    You can experience rice planting at the Irokawa rice terraces, which have been selected as one of the 100 best rice terraces in Japan.

  • Taiji

    Tour de Kumano (mid-May)

    A world-class bicycle race held in the neighboring town of Taiji.

April

  • Nachi Taisha Shrine

    Hydrangea Festival (June 14th)

    A festival held at Nachi Taisha Shrine to celebrate the blooming of hydrangeas and pray for good health.

  • 寺

    Daitai-ji Temple Hydrangea Blooms (June 1st to 30th)

  • 小阪

    Irokawa Rice Terrace Weeding Experience (late June)

    Experience rice paddy maintenance at the Irokawa rice terraces, which have been selected as one of the 100 best rice terraces in Japan.

April

  • Nachi

    Nachi Fan Festival (July 14th)

    Nachi O-Fan Festival is one of Japan's three major fire festivals. Shinto priests carrying large torches march in front of Nachi Falls.

  • Kushimoto

    Hanoi Festival (late July)

    This is a fast boat ritual in which boats circle a large rock at the mouth of the pure Koza River. There are also food stalls and fireworks.

    • City/town/village
      Kushimoto
    • 距離
      ~15km

  • Nachi Blue Beach, Tamanoura Beach

    Beach opening (mid-July to late August)

    10 minutes from Daitai-ji Temple. Nachikatsuura Town is proud of its blue beach. And Tamanoura beach, which is also mentioned in the Manyoshu. Tamanoura is popular with families with small children because of its shallow waters. Near Tamanoura beach, you will also find the shortest river in Japan, the Butsubutsu River (13m).

    • City/town/village
      Nachi Katsuura Town
    • 距離
      ~10km

April

  • Katsuura

    Nachikatsuura Fireworks Festival (August 11th)

    A fireworks display held at the fishing port of Nachikatsuura.

  • Kumano

    Kumano Fireworks Festival (August 17th)

    A large fireworks festival held in Kumano City. It is famous for the suicide bombing at sea, where large fireworks explode on the water surface.

  • 寺

    Daitai-ji Temple Temple Gate Segaki (August 16th)

    A traditional event to mourn the spirits of ancestors. Rice and water are scattered to console the spirits.

  • 二河 金剛院

    Nigawa Fire Festival (August 23rd)

    A memorial service in which a lit torch is thrown up into a large pine tree to mourn the spirits.

April

  • 小阪

    Irokawa Rice Terrace Rice Harvesting Experience (Early September)

    Experience rice harvesting at the Irokawa rice terraces, which have been selected as one of the 100 best rice terraces in Japan.

  • Katsuura

    Katsuura Hachiman Shrine Annual Festival (mid-September)

    This is the annual festival of Katsuura Hachiman Shrine. It is a festival to pray for safety at sea. It is famous for the underwater purification ritual in which the portable shrine is jumped into the sea.

  • Shimosato

    Takashiba Lion Dance (mid-September)

    The lion dance is registered as an intangible cultural property of the prefecture.

April

  • Urakami

    Urakami Lion Dance (mid-October)

    The nearby lion dance is famous for its brave and dynamic dance.

  • Shingu

    Mifune Festival (October 16th)

    The annual festival of Kumano Hayatama Taisha Shrine is famous for the fast boat race that starts at the mouth of the Kumano River and heads towards the sacred site of Mifunejima.

April

  • Mount Nachi

    熊野古道ヒルクライム

    This is a hill climb bicycle race with a distance of 30.5 km and an elevation difference of 960 m, which runs along the course of the Kumano Kodo, a World Heritage Site.

  • 小阪

    Irokawa Rice Terraces: Mochi Pounding and Shimenawa Making (Late November)

    Experience pounding rice cakes and making shimenawa ropes at the Irokawa rice terraces, which have been selected as one of the 100 best rice terraces in Japan.

April

  • 寺

    New Year's Eve Bells (December 31st)

    The party started at 11:50. Oden was served. Commemorative gifts were given.

  • Motomiya

    Sennin bath available (December 1st to end of February)

    As the name suggests, Kawayu is a hot spring that comes out when you dig a river. During this period, a large bath will appear on the riverbank. The large open-air bath on the riverbank gives you a great sense of freedom. Please bring your swimsuit.