Wakasa

Omizu-Okuri Ritual

An Ancient Religious Ritual Lights Up the Night to Welcome Spring

On March 2, the Omizu-Okuri (lit. “water-sending”) ritual is held at Jinguji Temple. The event begins at 11:00 a.m., with religious rites to prepare. The Omizu-Okuri ritual itself starts at 6:00 p.m., and includes a solemn nighttime procession, lit by a large pinewood torch carried by monks from the temple. Once the procession reaches Unose, a ceremony is performed by monks dressed in white, to bless okozui “sacred water” that is then sent along the Onyu River.

After this ritual, the okozui is believed to flow south to Todaiji Temple in Nara. It is received there during the Omizu-Tori (lit. “water-drawing”) ritual ten days later, marking the arrival of spring.

Visitors are welcome to watch the riverside ceremony, and can even join the torch-lit procession.