Omizutori at Todai-ji: Nara's Fire and Water Welcome to Spring

Published October 20, 2026 at 6:56 PM JST

For two weeks each March, giant torches light the balcony of Nigatsu-do Hall in Nara, and a midnight water-drawing rite closes an ancient Buddhist ceremony that locals say brings spring.

Quick answer: Omizutori, formally part of the Shuni-e ceremony, is a Buddhist rite held at Nigatsu-do Hall of Todai-ji temple in Nara. It usually runs from March 1 to 14, with large torches waved from the hall's balcony each evening and the water-drawing ritual in the early hours of March 13. The temple sets the exact schedule each year, so check its official site before visiting.

A fire ceremony that announces spring

In Nara, people say that spring arrives once the Omizutori is over. The saying comes from a ceremony that has been held at Todai-ji, the temple of the Great Buddha, for well over a thousand years. Each evening in early March, the hillside above the main temple fills with quiet crowds who gather at Nigatsu-do Hall to watch huge torches lit and carried along its wooden balcony, showering sparks into the dark.

The popular name Omizutori means water drawing, and it refers to one ritual within a longer service. The full ceremony is called Shuni-e, which can be understood as the second-month service, because it was traditionally held in the second month of the old lunar calendar. That is also the origin of the hall's name, Nigatsu-do, or the Hall of the Second Month. Today the ceremony takes place in the first two weeks of March, and its torches are a beloved herald of the new season.

Despite the sparks and crowds, the heart of Shuni-e is a quiet act of repentance and prayer. Eleven selected monks pray before the Eleven-Headed Kannon, a figure of compassion, asking for the cleansing of human wrongdoing, relief from illness, a good harvest and peace for the country, according to Todai-ji's own explanation. The torches serve that purpose too, lighting the monks' way, and the spectacle for onlookers is a lovely byproduct of a deeply devout rite.

History and origins

According to the Nara City tourism association, the ceremony has continued for more than 1,270 years. Tradition and reference works associate its founding with the monk Jitchu, and many sources give the year 752, although the exact origins are described as unclear in some accounts. The ceremony is said to have been held at another site before Nigatsu-do Hall was completed in the following decades.

The ceremony began in the second month of the lunar calendar, and the name Shuni-e and the hall's name both come from that timing. Nara's tourism association adds that the monks, called rengyoshu, withdraw to seclusion during the period and repent before the Eleven-Headed Kannon, praying for the safety of the nation and the welfare of society.

Two statues of the Eleven-Headed Kannon, known as the Ookannon and the Kogannon, are enshrined at the hall. Both are hidden Buddhas, which means no one is allowed to see them. The hidden nature of the images adds to the sense of reverence around the hall.

The torches, or otaimatsu

The torches are the part of Omizutori that most visitors come to see. According to Nara City tourism, selected attendants escort the monks up the stairs to Nigatsu-do, carrying torches about seven meters long to light the way. They then run along the balcony holding the torches, so that sparks fall toward the spectators in the courtyard below.

Other sources mention torches of up to about eight meters and a weight of several dozen kilograms, which gives a sense of the strength this takes. Many people believe that being touched by a falling spark brings health and protection for the year, though this is a popular belief rather than an official teaching of the temple. If you watch, keep a respectful distance and avoid waving your arms, since the sparks are real fire.

The balcony torches are lit nightly from March 1 to 14. On the last night, the torches are all lit and carried together, which makes it an especially striking evening, according to a visitor guide. On dark evenings the torch bearers also guide the monks one by one between their lodging and the hall, a quiet detail that shows the torches are practical as well as ceremonial.

What happens each night

The Nara City tourism page gives the usual torch times: at 7:00 pm each night, except for March 12, when the torches start at 7:30 pm, and March 14, when they start at 6:30 pm. The times and crowd levels can vary, so check the temple's current information.

Inside the hall, the monks perform their services six times a day, from evening through to after midnight, according to Todai-ji. The torches light the monks' way up to the hall, and visitors in the courtyard see only the fiery processions on the balcony, not the rites inside.

March 12 is the largest night. Visitor guides say that spectators on that evening are moved through in a queue, so each person has only a short time to view the torches, about five to ten minutes. On other nights it is easier to find a spot, although arriving early is still wise because the courtyard fills before sunset on most days.

The water-drawing ritual

The name Omizutori comes from the water-drawing rite held around 1:30 am on March 13, that is, in the early hours after the night of March 12. The monks draw water from a well beneath the hall, called the Wakasa well, and offer it to the Eleven-Headed Kannon, according to Todai-ji and Nara City tourism.

A beloved legend explains the well. The god Onyu Myojin is said to have been invited to the first Shuni-e but arrived late because he had been fishing. As an apology, he offered clear water, which burst forth as a spring. Todai-ji's account says the water was thought to flow underground from Wakasa, the old name for part of present-day Fukui Prefecture, and the spring feeds a fountain in front of the hall.

Because the ritual takes place in the middle of the night, few visitors see it, but the idea alone adds to the festival's mystique. Nara residents say that spring truly begins once the water has been offered.

Visiting tips and etiquette

Todai-ji is free to enter for the torch viewing, according to Nara City tourism, and the courtyard below the balcony is the main place to watch. There is no car park at the site, so most visitors arrive by bus or on foot. The Nara City tourism page mentions a seven-minute bus ride from JR or Kintetsu Nara Station, or a ten-minute walk from the Daibutsuden Kasuga Taisha-mae bus stop.

Todai-ji gives some rules that help everyone. Bicycles and motorcycles must be left in the designated bicycle area southwest of the Great South Gate and not pushed through the grounds, and when photographing the torches you should turn off flash and phone lights, which can disturb the ceremony. Dress warmly, because early March evenings in Nara are cold, and be ready for a wait.

Move calmly with the crowd and follow staff instructions, especially on the busiest nights. Remember that this is a religious ceremony, so keep your voice low, and avoid blocking the view of others.

Making a day of it in Nara

Nigatsu-do stands on a hillside about a ten-minute walk uphill from the main Todai-ji hall, according to a visitor guide, and the area around it has quiet paths and old wooden buildings that look lovely at dusk. Many visitors explore Todai-ji and nearby Nara Park earlier in the day and then walk up to the hall as the light fades.

The Omizutori ceremony fits well with a visit to other parts of the old capital. The Great Buddha Hall and Nara Park are close by, so the evening torches pair naturally with a full day of sightseeing. Allow extra time for crowds in March and, if possible, check the Todai-ji website for any changes to the schedule or viewing arrangements.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Omizutori held?

Shuni-e, including the Omizutori, usually runs from March 1 to 14 each year, with the torches lit every evening and the water-drawing rite in the early hours of March 13. The temple confirms the exact schedule every year.

Is a ticket needed to watch the torches?

According to Nara City tourism, the event is free to watch. The courtyard below the balcony is where most visitors gather. Because it is popular, arrive early, expect to be guided by staff, and check Todai-ji's official page for any changes.

Can visitors see the water-drawing ritual?

The water-drawing takes place in the early hours of March 13, around 1:30 am, which is a very late time for most visitors. Todai-ji and Nara City tourism describe the rite, but it is mostly experienced as a quiet moment of the ceremony. Many visitors choose instead to enjoy the evening torches.

Further reading: the Todai-ji page on Shuni-e, torches and Omizutori at Nigatsu-do Hall and the Nara City tourism association page on the Shuni-e ceremony.

Keep exploring: Five Mountains, Five Fires: Kyoto's Gozan Okuribi Send-Off; Nada no Kenka Matsuri: Himeji's Festival of Clashing Mikoshi; Jidai Matsuri: Kyoto's Autumn Walk Through a Thousand Years; Kurama Fire Festival: A Torch-Lit Autumn Night in Kyoto's Hills.