Engakuji Temple New Year Shariden Special Opening & Daihannya Prayer Ritual

What Are the New Year Shariden Opening and the Daihannya Prayer Ritual at Engakuji Temple?

Every year from January 1 to 3, Engakuji Temple (円覚寺) in Kita-Kamakura (北鎌倉) opens its National Treasure Shariden (舎利殿), the Relic Hall, to the public. On the same three mornings, the Daihannya Prayer Ritual (Daihannya Kitoe, 大般若祈祷会), a New Year prayer service, is held in the Daihojo (大方丈), the temple’s great hall.

Dates and Hours

It takes place for three days, from January 1 to 3. The Shariden is open from about 9:00 a.m. to about 4:00 p.m., and on January 3 it closes at about 3:30 p.m. The Daihannya Prayer Ritual starts at about 6:00 a.m. each day.

Highlights: Praying Before the National Treasure Shariden

The Shariden stands inside Shozokuin (正続院), a tatchu (塔頭), or sub-temple, dedicated to Engakuji’s founder Mugaku Sogen (無学祖元). The area is a training hall for monks, so usually you can only see the roof from outside the gate. During the three-day opening, you can step inside the Shozokuin gate and walk up close to the front of the Shariden to pray. You cannot enter the hall itself.

The Shariden also opens during the May holidays and during the autumn Treasure Airing (Homotsu Kazeire, 宝物風入). For the autumn opening, see Engakuji Temple Treasure Airing & National Treasure Shariden Special Opening.

Highlights: The Daihannya Prayer Ritual in the Daihojo

The Daihannya Prayer Ritual celebrates the New Year with prayers for peace in the world, the flourishing of Buddhism and the prosperity of the temple. Monks perform tendoku (転読) of the 600 scrolls of the Great Wisdom Sutra (Daihannya-kyo, 大般若経). Tendoku is a ritual reading in which each folded sutra book is spread wide from side to side and riffled through, counting as a reading of the whole text. Members of the public can watch the ritual in the Daihojo.

Fees and Tips

The Shariden special opening costs 300 yen for adults and 100 yen for children, separately from the temple admission (adults 500 yen, children 200 yen). Fees can change from year to year. On New Year’s Day, temple admission is usually free from late on New Year’s Eve until about 4:00 p.m.

From December to February, Engakuji is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (visitors must leave the grounds by 4:30 p.m.).

Access: Visiting During Your Stay at Toshi’s Place

Engakuji is about a 1-minute walk from JR Kita-Kamakura Station (北鎌倉駅) on the Yokosuka Line. From Toshi’s Place, take the Enoden (江ノ電) from Hase Station (長谷駅) or Wadazuka Station (和田塚駅) to Kamakura Station (鎌倉駅), then change to the JR Yokosuka Line for Kita-Kamakura Station.

Staying in Kamakura makes it much easier to reach the early-morning Daihannya Prayer Ritual. At Toshi’s Place, fully unstaffed smart hotels with full kitchens and no meals provided, you can explore Kamakura at your own pace.

Summary

New Year at Engakuji brings three days when you can pray before the National Treasure Shariden from inside the Shozokuin gate and watch the Daihannya Prayer Ritual early in the morning. For the temple’s regular highlights, see Engakuji Temple.

Basic Information

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