• Kongobuji : The Head Temple
• The Whole Mountain is Kongobuji
• Inside the Temple
• Greetings from the 412th Chief Abbot of Kongobuji
• Annual Events and Ceremonies

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Annual Events and Ceremonies

SHUSO-GOUTAN-E or The Aoba Festival,Commemoration of Kukai(Kobo Daishi)'s Birthday

Date: June 15th

The ceremony starts at 9:00 at the auditorium of Koyasan Daishi Kyokai and a procession is held in the afternoon.

This ceremony celebrates the birthday of Kukai (Kobo Daishi) followed by a procession. The participants include: people of Koyasan, worshippers from all around Japan, and visitors. This ceremony was introduced for the first time on the list of Kongobuji Annual Events in 1778 and was held in Kon-do. Since 1915 when Koyasan Daishi Kyokai was established, it started to be held in the auditorium of Koyasan Daishi Kyokai. In the afternoon, the "HANAMIDO", which is the small altar that enshrines Kukai (Kobo Daishi) in the form of a child, is paraded through the street along with other decorative floats. A processional performance includes dancing and drumming as well. On the eve of the commemoration day, Huge colorful floats with luminous paper effigies of Kobo Daishi, Buddha or Bodhisattva made by local people under the sponsorship of the youth of Chamber of Commerce, parade in the town.