Visit Nara

Omizutori is the water ceremony on the last day of Shuni-e, a two week Buddhist fire ceremony held at Nigatsudo Hall, a sub-complex of Todaiji Temple. The ritual, started about 1,250 years ago by a monk, is held for laypersons to repent for wrongdoing and to pray for a fresh start to the new lunar year. It takes place between March 1 and March 14 just before cherry blossoms bloom. For the first ten nights of the fire ceremony torch bearers shoulder large pine trees as they run along the balcony of Nigatsudo; the embers showered upon the audience below are said to be auspicious. After the final night of the fire ceremony, monks draw water from the Wakasa Wall under Nigatsu-do. It is believed that the water from the well springs forth once a year and is known to cure ailments. At 2am, monks offer this water to the Kannon and the public. This popular event attracts lots of local people. The flames burning bright from Nigatsu-do Hall are spectacular and worth seeing.