Jochiji Temple: Photo Memorial Service

What is the Photo Memorial Service?

The Photo Memorial Service (写真供養感謝祭) is held every year on the second Saturday of November at Jochiji Temple (浄智寺) in Kita-Kamakura (北鎌倉). It is a memorial rite for treasured photographs: participants bring photos, give thanks for them, and burn them with their own hands in an otakiage (お焚き上げ), a ritual fire for sending off objects with gratitude. It is organized by Jochiji Temple and the Photo Memorial Service Executive Committee, with the support of the Kamakura City Tourist Association (鎌倉市観光協会). The event was once held at Zuisenji Temple (瑞泉寺) and moved to Jochiji Temple in 2014.

Date, Hours and Offering

The service is usually held on the second Saturday of November from 11:00 to 14:00, and you can join at any time during those hours. No reservation is needed; bring your photos on the day. Photos sent by mail or left in advance are not accepted. The offering for the memorial is by donation (shino, 志納), meaning you give whatever amount you wish.

Highlights | Placing Your Photos in the Fire Yourself

After making your donation at the reception desk, you place your photos yourself into an iron fire bowl set up in front of Dongeden Hall (曇華殿), the temple’s main hall. The photos are blessed with sutra chanting before they are burned. In recent years, members of the Uraga Wind Orchestra (浦賀ウインドオーケストラ) have also performed live music.

What You Can Bring and Notes

Only printed photographs can be burned, and there is no limit on the number. Albums, film and picture frames are not accepted. When it is crowded, visitors are asked to make way for one another.

Access | Visiting During Your Stay at Toshi’s Place

It is an 8-minute walk from Kita-Kamakura Station (北鎌倉駅) on the JR Yokosuka Line (横須賀線). If you stay at Toshi’s Place, a room-only, fully unmanned smart hotel with a full kitchen, take the Enoden (江ノ電) from Hase (長谷) or Wadazuka (和田塚) to Kamakura Station (鎌倉駅), then change to the JR Yokosuka Line for one stop.

Summary

The Photo Memorial Service is an event at Jochiji Temple where you give thanks to your treasured photos and burn them with your own hands. For the temple’s history and highlights, see Jochiji Temple.

Basic Information

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