Monthly Events and Services
Monthly Daishi Memorial Service
(Memorial Service and Dharma Talk)
Held on the 20th of every month
- 9:00 a.m. – Temple cleaning
- 10:30 a.m. – Memorial service
Dates may change if the 20th falls on a weekend, public holiday, or another temple event.
Please contact the temple in advance before visiting.
Sutra Copying Gathering (Shakyō-kai)
(Sutra Copying and Dharma Talk)
First Sunday of every month
7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.
- Participation fee: 300 yen
- Dedication to Okunoin, Mount Kōya: 1,000 yen
Goeika Chanting Class
Second & Fourth Mondays of each month
5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- Participation fee: Free
Schedules may change. Please contact Kōyaji Temple for details.
Kōyaji Yoga Club
- Sundays: 10:30 a.m.
- Thursdays: 10:00 a.m.
Schedules may change. Please check our website for updates.
Seasonal Events and Services
February 3 – Star Festival Prayer Service (Hoshi Matsuri)
Day Session: 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Evening Session: 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Bean-throwing ceremony is held during the evening session.
At Kōyaji Temple’s Main Hall, prayers are offered for protection from misfortune and for good fortune in the coming year. Based on traditional astrology of Indian origin, a Great Goma Fire Ritual is performed, with individual prayers for each participant.
- Prayer sticks are offered into the sacred fire
- Prayers may be offered on behalf of those unable to attend
- Advance registration required
March 18 ~ March 24
Spring Equinox Memorial Service (Spring Higan)
The Higan period consists of seven days centered on the Spring Equinox. In Buddhism, balance and harmony (the Middle Way) are essential teachings.
The equinox symbolizes balance between this world and the next, making it an ideal time for memorial services and visiting family graves.
Thursday~Sunday of the Final Week of March
Shikoku 88 Temple Sand Pilgrimage
Flower Festival (Buddha’s Birthday)
Special Opening of the Principal Image
Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (Until 3:00 p.m. on the final day)
Visitors may symbolically visit the Shikoku 88 Sacred Sites by walking over consecrated sand.
- Write your wish on a votive slip
- Entire pilgrimage completed in about 30 minutes
- Votive slips are later dedicated at Shikoku pilgrimage temples and Mount Kōya
- Visitors may touch the sacred images (Sundays only)
April 8 – Buddha’s Birthday
Sweet tea (amacha) is served on Saturdays and Sundays.
Straw-sandal prayer rituals are available for protection from cerebrovascular illness.
Applications are accepted for those unable to attend during the event period.
April 24 – Mizuko Memorial Service
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
A memorial service to comfort and pray for the spirits of deceased children. Same-day participation and advance applications are available.
May 18 – Kannon Festival (Prayers for Health and Longevity)
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Special Opening of the Ichi-yō Kannon Image
June 15 – Aoba Festival
(Birth Anniversary of Kōbō Daishi)
- 1:00 p.m. – Decoration of the Flower Pavilion
- 2:00 p.m. – Birthday Memorial Service
Obon Memorial Period
- July 13–15: New-calendar Obon
- August 13–15: Traditional Obon
Obon is a time when ancestral spirits return home. Families prepare altars, light welcoming fires, and offer food in gratitude. Farewell fires are lit to see the spirits off with thanks.
August 16 – Manto-e Lantern Festival
(Obon Farewell Ceremony)
7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Lanterns bearing the names of ancestors are lit and offered in prayer. Advance registration is recommended.
September 19 ~ September 25
Autumn Equinox Memorial Service (Autumn Higan)
October 24 – Thousand Jizō Offering Ceremony
From 9:00 a.m.
Prayers are offered for ancestors and family well-being. A thousand prayer slips are dedicated at Katsurahama Beach.
November 20 – General Memorial Service for Parishioners
(Great Earth Blessing Ritual)
1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m
The largest annual event at Kōyaji Temple. After a Dharma talk, Shingon priests from across the prefecture offer prayers for the departed souls of all parish families.
