With things cooling off and temperatures dropping across Nara, September is quite a busy events' month. If you missed the Nara Tokae last month, there are a number of light-ups and night festivals happening in September. The old quarter of Naramachi takes on a special charm with hanging lanterns and fun festivities, and on Mount Ikoma there’s a popular Fall equinox festival. Other activities include September moon viewing, the Uneme festival on Sarusawa Pond, and night festivities in Asuka village.
Uneme Matsuri Sarusawa Legends Festival
One of Nara’s most unique and popular festivals is the Uneme Matsuri which happens around Sarusawa Pond (on the doorstep of the NARA Visitors Center and Inn). The festival appeases the ghost or spirit of a courtier who drowned in the pond. The festival happens on the day of the September autumn full moon, starting with a parade from JR Nara Station to the pond. The festivities include a dragon-headed boat and a phoenix-headed boat, gagaku Imperial court music, lanterns and much more.
Date: 17 Sept (16th are prayer ceremonies)
Time: 17:00 to 20:00
Fee: None
Location: Sarusawa Pond
Nara Promenade Light UP
If you missed the major light ups last month like the Nara Tokae, Manto-kuyo-e, or Chugen Mantoro, you can still see some of Nara’s key heritage buildings lit up into the night. The event started in July and runs through until 23 September. Locations include: Kasuga-taisha Shrine, Todai-ji Temple, Nara National Museum, Ukimido on Sagiike Pond, Sarusawa Pond, Buddhist Art Research Center, Heijo Palace Site (Daigokuden Hall and Suzaku-mon Gate), and Yakushi-ji Temple (East and West Pagoda).
Date: Until 23 September
Time: 18:00 to 22:00
Fee: None
Ikoma Autumn Equinox Festival (Hozan-ji Temple Mantoe)
Ikoma Mountain, featuring Hozan-ji Temple, is quite an up-and-coming local tourist area with a vibrant and alternative community. On the night of the Fall equinox or ‘higan’, there is a lantern festival lighting up the stone stairway from Hozan-ji cable station to Hozan-ji Temple. The lanterns are colored and decorated with many different themes, some of them done by local school children or community members. Inside the temple grounds you can enjoy musical and other events. There will also be food stalls near the upper car park and at open venues along the stairway.
Date: 22 Sept
Time: 18:30 to 21:30
Location: Hozan-ji Temple
Fee: None
Transport: From Kintetsu Ikoma station, take the cableway one stop to Hozan-ji.
Jiko-in Kangetsu Moon Viewing Tea Ceremony
Jiko-in Temple is a 25-minute-walk from Yamato Koizumi Station in Koriyama City. Jiko-in is a Zen temple famous for its gardens, numerous tea rooms, and public tea ceremonies. ‘Kangetsu’ refers to the spectacular September autumn moon. There are various ‘kangetsu’ events around Japan, but Jiko-in is a special place in Nara to enjoy a serene evening of cool moon viewing.
Date: 17 Sept
Time: 17:00 - 21:00
Fee: 1,000 yen
Location: Jiko-in Temple
Transport: From Nara JR Station, take the Yamatoji Line to Yamato Koizumi Station.
Toshodai-ji Temple Harvest Moon Festival
Toshodai-ji Temple in Nishinokyo, a 10-min-walk from Yakushi-ji Temple, celebrates the September autumn full moon with a special prayer and tea offering ceremony, and the temple’s private garden will be opened for public viewing.
Date: 17 September
Time: 18:00 - 20:00
Fee: 1,000 yen
Location: Toshodai-ji Temple
Transport: From Kintetsu Yamato Saidaiji Station, take the train bound for Kashihara and get off at Nishinokyo. Walk 10 minutes in the opposite direction to Yakushi-ji Temple.
Asuka Village Night Festivities
On the equinox weekend of September, various temples and other locations in Asuka village will feature food stalls, night walks, concerts, and illuminations. Two key locations are the Ishibutai Kofun Tumulus and Oka-dera Temple (17-min-walk between), among around six light-up locations. Tachibana-dera Temple is a 3-min-walk to Gufuku-ji Ruins, and a 25-min-walk to Oka-dera Temple. Shuttle buses are provided, but they may be crowded, so choose a couple of locations to focus on.
Date: TBA
Time: TBA
Fee: None
Location: Various sites Asuka Village
Transport: If you’re in Nara, the cheapest option is a 2-day Nara Kotsu bus pass. Coming from Osaka, Kobe, or Kyoto, your best option is the 1-day Asuka train pass.
Inabuchi Tanada Kakashi Scarecrow Festival
If you want to get out and about during the day, why not try the Asuka Village with its displays of cluster Amaryllis flowers? Key dates are September 22 /23 for the official festival times. You can view these lovely red flower clusters set against the rice paddies turning to a golden hue just before harvesting. There will be local foods on sale, a farmers’ market, and a scarecrow contest among other events. The area to go to is Asuka Inabuchi, Historical National Government Park and Ishibutai Tumulus.
Date: 22 to 23 Sept
Time: A full daytime event
Fee: None
Location: Asuka Village
Transport: If you’re in Nara, the cheapest option is a 2-day Nara Kotsu bus pass. Coming from Osaka, Kobe, or Kyoto, your best option is the 1-day Asuka train pass.
Ofusa Kannon Wind Chimes
The Ofusa-Kannon Temple wind chime display has been running since July and lasts until the end of September. You can enjoy the site and sounds of wind chimes from around Japan. The temple also has a beautiful garden and a historic tea house where you can relax and enjoy tea and snacks.
Date: Until end Sept
Time: 7:00 to 16:30
Fee: 300 yen entry
Location: Ofusa Kannon Temple
Transport: Take a bus from Kintetsu Yamato-Yagi Station to Kobosu and walk 5 min, or from JR Unebi Station it’s a 10-min-walk.
Yasumigaoka Hachimangu Shrine Children’s Sumo Tournament
The Yasumigaoka Hachimangu Shrine, which is part of Yakushi-ji Temple, will host an open Sumo Tournament for children. It happens on the Monday public holiday for September, or 16 September. The shrine is located near the back entrance or the South Gate to Yakushi-ji Temple.
Date: 16 September
Time: Starts at 10:00
Fee: None
Location: Yasumigaoka Hachimangu Shrine
Transport: From Kintetsu Yamato Saidaiji Station, take a train bound for Kashihara and get off at the 2nd stop, which is Nishinokyo.
Yasumigaoka Kashihara-jingu Shrine Kentousai Light Up
Kashihara City was the ancient imperial capital of Japan before the capital moved to present day Nara City. During September, its most important cultural asset, the Kashihara-jingu Shrine, is lit up with over 1,000 lanterns. The festival is a prayer for prosperity and success.
Date: 9 Sept
Time: From 17:00
Location: Kashihara-jingu Shrine
Fee: None
Transport: Take a train from Kintetsu Yamato Saidaiji Station to Kashihara Jingu Mae Station.
‘Nara for Culture’ Music Festivities in September
The Nara for Culture (Japanese) musical arts festival runs until the end of December 2024. Each month, you can choose from a range of delightful musical events. This month mostly features jazz and related genres at the Nara Blue Note Jazz Bar. You can use Google Translate to browse events.
Author: NARA Visitor Center & Inn
Comments