Hasedera Temple Hatsu-Kannon, the First Kannon Day of the Year

What Is Hatsu-Kannon at Hasedera?

On the 18th of every month, Hasedera Temple (長谷寺) holds the Kannon-e (観音会), a service on the ennichi (縁日), the monthly holy day, of its main statue, the Eleven-faced Kannon (十一面観世音菩薩). The first Kannon-e of the year, held on January 18, is called Hatsu-Kannon (初観音). It is the first day of the year to form a bond with Kannon, the bodhisattva of compassion.

Date and Time

Hatsu-Kannon takes place every year on January 18. In a typical year, the service is held in the Kannon Hall (観音堂) from 10:00. The temple does not announce when the service ends.

Highlights: The Full Kannon Sutra, Chanted Once a Year

At the usual monthly Kannon-e, only one part of the Kannon Sutra (観音経), called the Seson-ge (世尊偈), is chanted. At Hatsu-Kannon, the monks chant the full text of Kannon-gyo Fumonbon Dai Nijugo (観音経普門品第二十五), chapter 25 of the Lotus Sutra devoted to Kannon. Ordinary visitors can also attend the service, and the temple invites everyone to take part. The main statue is 9.18 meters tall and one of the largest wooden Buddhist statues in Japan.

Highlights: Turning the Revolving Sutra Bookcase

Because the 18th is Kannon’s holy day, you can turn the rinzo (輪蔵), a revolving sutra bookcase inside the Kyozo (経蔵) sutra hall. The rinzo holds the Issaikyo (一切経), the entire Buddhist canon, and turning it once is said to bring the same merit as reading all of it. The rinzo can be turned only on the 18th of every month, during the first three days of the New Year, on April 8, and on August 10.

Visiting Tips

The regular entrance fee applies (adults 400 yen, elementary school students 200 yen). Photography is not allowed inside the Kannon Hall.

Access: Visiting During Your Stay at Toshi’s Place

Hasedera Temple is about a 5-minute walk from Hase Station (長谷駅) on the Enoden (江ノ電) line. From JR Kamakura Station (鎌倉駅), take a bus to the “Hase Kannon (長谷観音)” stop and walk about 5 minutes.

If you stay in Kamakura (鎌倉), you can head to Hasedera in the morning in time for the 10:00 service. At Toshi’s Place, fully unstaffed smart hotels with full kitchens and no meals provided, you can explore Kamakura at your own pace.

Summary

On January 18 at Hasedera, you can attend the year’s first Kannon-e and hear the full Kannon Sutra, then turn the rinzo, which can be turned only on holy days, to gain merit. Hasedera’s year begins with the Manto Kigan-e (万灯祈願会) on New Year’s Day and ends with the Toshi-no-Ichi (歳の市) and Kannon Mi-ashi Mairi (観音御足参り) on December 18. For the temple’s usual highlights, see Hasedera Temple.

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