Gokurakuji Temple Busshoe (Buddha’s Birthday)

What Is the Busshoe at Gokurakuji Temple?

The Busshoe (仏生会) at Gokurakuji Temple (極楽寺) is a celebration of the Buddha’s birth, held every year on April 7 and 8. The temple’s hidden principal image, a Seiryoji-style standing Shaka Nyorai (清凉寺式釈迦如来立像), is unveiled only on these two days. The main hall and the tomb pagoda of the founder Ninsho (忍性) in the Okunoin (奥の院), the inner precinct, are also open to the public on just these two days a year. Gokurakuji is the only temple of the Shingon Ritsu (真言律宗) school in Kamakura (鎌倉), and Ninsho is remembered for devoting his life to helping the poor and the sick.

Dates and Times

The unveiling of the principal image and visits to the main hall usually run from 11:00 to 16:00 on April 7 and from 10:00 to 16:00 on April 8, with reception opening at 10:00 on both days. The special visit to the Ninsho Bosatsu Gobyo (忍性菩薩御廟), Ninsho’s mausoleum, follows the same hours. On April 8, the Kanbutsu-e (灌仏会) ceremony is held from 10:00 to 16:00, and sweet tea (amacha, 甘茶) is served from 10:00 until about 15:00, while supplies last.

Highlights: The Hidden Buddha and the Ten Great Disciples

The principal image is a standing Shaka Buddha modeled on the Shaka statue handed down at Seiryoji Temple (清凉寺) in Kyoto (京都), and it is an Important Cultural Property of Japan. In the treasure hall where it is enshrined (転法輪殿), you can also see the standing statues of the Ten Great Disciples (十大弟子立像), which were made as attendants to the principal image. They were carved in 1268, soon after Ninsho came to Gokurakuji, and are also Important Cultural Properties. All ten have inlaid crystal eyes (gyokugan, 玉眼), and each figure differs in expression, hand gesture and posture. In the main hall you can pay respects to seated statues of the founder Ninsho and of his teacher Eison (叡尊), known as Kosho Bosatsu (興正菩薩).

Highlights: Offering Incense at Three Places

Instead of paying an admission fee, visitors buy a small packet of sandalwood incense at the reception and burn it at three incense burners around the temple as they make their rounds. The reception is set up in front of the treasure hall, and incense is offered at the treasure hall, the main hall and Ninsho’s tomb pagoda. In recent years the packet has cost 1,000 yen.

Highlights: Ninsho’s Tomb Pagoda in the Okunoin

To reach Ninsho’s tomb pagoda, you leave the temple grounds from behind the main hall and walk a few minutes past houses and alongside an elementary school playground to the Okunoin. The tomb is a large stone gorinto (五輪塔), a five-tiered pagoda, and is an Important Cultural Property. The site and the temple grounds together form the national Historic Site “Gokurakuji Precinct and Ninsho’s Tomb” (極楽寺境内・忍性墓). On April 8 a memorial service is held in front of the pagoda, and visitors join in chanting the sutras. If it rains, the service is held in the main hall.

Highlights: Kanbutsu-e and Sweet Tea on April 8

For Kanbutsu-e on April 8, a small flower-decked shrine called a hanamido (花御堂) is placed in front of the main hall, and visitors pour sweet tea over the statue of the infant Buddha (誕生仏) inside to celebrate his birth. Sweet tea is also served to visitors. On the afternoons of both days, paid lectures by invited speakers are held. Places are limited and the way to apply changes from year to year, so check that year’s announcement.

Tips for Visiting

The temple does not permit photography of its Buddhist statues or of Ninsho’s tomb pagoda, and photography is not allowed in the Okunoin. Around 10:00, when the unveiling begins, people line up at the reception. Gokurakuji has no parking. The principal image cannot be seen during the treasure hall’s regular spring and autumn openings.

Access: Visiting During Your Stay at Toshi’s Place

The temple is just a short walk from Gokurakuji Station (極楽寺駅) on the Enoden (江ノ電). If you stay at Toshi’s Place, take the Enoden from Hase (長谷) or Wadazuka (和田塚) to Gokurakuji Station.

Summary

The Busshoe at Gokurakuji Temple is the only time of year you can see the hidden principal image and the Ten Great Disciples and visit the main hall and Ninsho’s tomb pagoda, for just two days. The temple’s history and highlights are introduced on our Gokurakuji Temple page.

Basic Information

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