Services & Ceremonies
Buddhist Services
In the Jodo Shinshu tradition, attending Buddhist service observances are encouraged, regarding them as good opportunities to enable yourself and fellow Jodo Shinshu followers to appreciate the Buddha Dharma even more deeply and allow newcomers to encounter the tradition.
At Hongwanji, a variety of observances and religious services are conducted annually.* (Calendar) In addition to them, religious services or ceremonies for the individual, such as a memorial for a deceased family member, are also available in the Hongwanji worship halls upon request.
For further information, please contact the Hongwanji Reception Department.
Email: sanpai@hongwanji.or.jp
Confirmation Ceremony
The Confirmation Ceremony is the occasion in which you express your commitment as a Jodo Shinshu follower in front of the images of Amida Buddha and the founder, Shinran Shonin. This is a very important and once in a lifetime ceremony. Through this, you will receive your Dharma name from the Hongwanji resident and Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha Buddhist organization head priest, also known as Monshu.
The Confirmation Ceremony is daily, usually twice a day: following morning service and at 1:30 PM, conducted in the Hongwanji worship halls. The officiant for the Ceremony will be either the Monshu or a designated representative.
A donation of 10,000 yen for adults or 5,000 yen for minors is required. Since ceremonies are subject to cancellation, advance appointment is recommended.
For further information, please contact the Hongwanji Reception Department.
Email: sanpai@hongwanji.or.jp
Infant Rite
The first opportunity to have your child encounter the Buddha Dharma is truly a joyous occasion. Like memorials and other Buddhist services and ceremonies, celebrating happy events such as the birth of a baby, admission to or graduation from schools, and coming-of-age, are also recommended as auspicious opportunities that allow you and others to encounter and appreciate more deeply Amida Buddha's teaching in daily life.
At Hongwanji, the infant rite is conducted in the worship halls which entail the offering of incense, a commemorative photo, signing in the Hongwanji Infant Rite memorial book, and the presentation of a commemorative gift.
(Ceremony length: approximately 30 minutes)
Advance appointment is required.
For further information, please contact the Hongwanji Reception Department.
Email: sanpai@hongwanji.or.jp
Wedding Ceremony
A wedding is surely an auspicious occasion for a couple to together renew their entrusting to the Dharma in front of the image of Amida Buddha.
In a Buddhist wedding ceremony, the couple exchange marriage vows and nenjus among conducting other ceremonial traditions in front of Amida Buddha. Performance of serene ceremonial court music of Japan, or gagaku, is available upon request.
Advance appointment is required.
For further information, please contact the Hongwanji Reception Department.
Email: sanpai@hongwanji.or.jp
Nembutsu Volunteer Activities
This two-day program allows groups of Jodo Shinshu followers to take part in various activities, such as volunteer cleaning of the temple compound, tea ceremony in a national treasure audience hall, and a commemorative photograph together with the Hongwanji resident priest and Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha Buddhist organization head priest, also known as Monshu. The goal of the program is to deepen the participants' appreciation of the Dharma and affinity to their head temple, Hongwanji, through these activities.
Application for minimum groups of 10 members or more is required to be made through a Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha Buddhist organization affiliation.
For further information, please contact the Hongwanji Reception Department.
Email: sanpai@hongwanji.or.jp
