Daruma Kuyo at Nishi-Arai Daishi Temple 節分(だるま供養)

Note: The 2024 installment of this event has already taken place.

Nishiarai (also spelled Nishi-Arai) Daishi is a prominent temple that was established in 826. Since 1954, it has been hosting a daruma memorial service, a traditional event when people bring the daruma dolls they've used over the past year to the temple and then purchase new ones for the coming year. Daruma are typically used to make wishes, such as for your family's safety or for business prosperity.

During the memorial festival, the used daruma are burned in a ceremony. First, Buddhist priests signal their entry with the blowing of conch-shell horns. They then gather together and chant sutras as they set fire to the collection of tens of thousands of daruma.

You can, of course, buy a daruma to take home. Additionally, inside the main grounds, there is a Setsubun bean-throwing event to welcome spring and to drive away bad fortune. Numerous souvenir shops and dango (sweet dumpling) stands line the street leading up to the temple, so there will be no shortage of things for you to enjoy.