Matsuri Guide

Name in Japanese and English

• 五大力尊仁王会（ごだいりきそん にんのうえ）
• Godai Rikison Ninnō-e Festival ("Godairiki-san") at Daigo-ji Temple

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History

The Godai Rikison Ninnō-e（五大力尊仁王会, often called “Godairiki-san”） is the largest annual event at Daigo-ji Temple, an important Buddhist temple of the Shingon school located in Kyōto. This ritual is said to have been established in 907 during the reign of Emperor Daigo, making it a ceremony with more than 1,100 years of uninterrupted history.

The term “Godai Rikison” refers to the five great powers of the Five Great Wisdom Kings（五大明王, Godai Myōō）: Fudō Myōō（不動明王）, Gōzanze Myōō（降三世明王）, Gundari Myōō（軍荼利明王）, Daiitoku Myōō（大威徳明王） and Kongōyasha Myōō（金剛夜叉明王）. At Daigo-ji, these protective forces are personified by the bodhisattva Godairiki（五大力菩薩） to whom prayers are offered for peace in the country, happiness of the people, prosperity of households and health.

The term “Ninnō-e”（仁王会） originally refers to a state ritual where Buddhist deities are implored to ward off calamities (famines, wars, epidemics) and ensure the stability of the reign. At Daigo-ji, this Ninnō-e developed as a major popular early spring festival, while retaining a strong liturgical character: the main ceremony takes place in the Kondō（金堂, main hall, designated a National Treasure）.

One of the best-known aspects is the distribution of the talisman Godaiki-son Miei （五大力尊御影, Godaiki-son Miei）. These ofuda made of paper, consecrated during a week of preparatory prayers, are pasted at the entrances of houses and shops to protect against burglaries, fires and various misfortunes. It is said that they watch day and night like a shadow over the family. This reputation attracts every year tens of thousands or even more than one hundred thousand visitors, making Godairiki-san the highlight of Daigo-ji’s calendar.

At the same time, the festival has become famous for the spectacular “Mochi-age chikara hōnō”（餅上げ力奉納, offering of strength by lifting rice cakes): participants lift huge kagami-mochi weighing 150 kg for men and 90 kg for women, thus offering their strength to the deities to obtain longevity and physical robustness.

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Place and Date of the Event

• Place: Daigo-ji（醍醐寺, Daigo-ji）, a large Buddhist temple of the Shingon school, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (“Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto”).
• Date: every year on February 23, a modern national holiday in Japan. The Godai Rikison Ninnō-e is always scheduled on this date.
• Typical schedule (varies by year but follows the same pattern):
• 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM / 5:00 PM: main Ninnō-e service in the Kondō and special prayers.
• 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM: distribution of Godaiki-son Miei talismans and other amulets.
• 11:00 AM: Mochi-age chikara hōnō – men’s category (150 kg).
• around 1:00 PM: Mochi-age chikara hōnō – women’s category (90 kg).

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Procedure

The Godai Rikison Ninnō-e is prepared from mid-February with a week of preliminary prayers called "twenty-one sessions of Ninnō-e" （二十一座の前行, nijūichi-za no zengyō): more than a thousand monks from the Shingon branch of Daigo take turns in various pavilions to recite sūtras and perform fire rituals, consecrating the talismans that will be distributed on February 23.

On the day of the festival, from dawn, a long line forms in front of the Kondō to obtain the Godaiki-son Miei. It is said that these talismans, once affixed to the front door, protect the house against burglaries, fires, and illnesses, and watch over the inhabitants like a benevolent shadow. Many traditional houses in Kyōto thus display the Godairiki-san paper at their threshold.

Inside the Kondō, the monks led by the temple superior conduct the grand Ninnō-e service: recitations of sūtras, invocation of the Five Great Wisdom Kings and prayers for peace in the country, the end of wars and epidemics, a good harvest and the happiness of the faithful. Participants can sometimes grasp a ritual sword symbolically linked to the Five Myōō to receive their power directly.

Outside, in front of the Kondō or near the Fudō-dō（不動堂）, a goma fire altar （柴燈護摩, saitō-goma) is maintained all day. Bundles of wood marked with wishes are offered to the flames while the monks chant mantras, creating a very spectacular atmosphere of fire, drums, and smoke.

On a large stage set up in front of the Kondō, the main televised event then takes place: the Mochi-age chikara hōnō. Volunteers, registered in advance, take turns to lift a huge red and white kagami-mochi: about 150 kg for men and 90 kg for women. Participants grip the wooden tray, lift the mochi to chest height, and try to hold it as long as possible, amid the cheers of the crowd. Traditionally, the time was timed and the best received the symbolic title of "yokozuna" of the festival.

After the pandemic, the contest has sometimes been adjusted: instead of naming a winner, participants are sometimes asked to hold the mochi for up to five minutes, as a personal offering of strength to wish for the end of the epidemic, health, and protection. In any case, the idea remains to give one’s energy to the deities rather than simply show one’s power.

Throughout the day, stalls offer food, souvenirs, amulets, and products related to Daigo-ji. Some devotees linger to visit the Sambō-in gardens or the five-story pagoda, thus combining pilgrimage, prayer, and tourism.

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Practical Tips

Photos

If you want to capture the Mochi-age chikara hōnō, the best time is around 11:00 AM (men) and 1:00 PM (women). Position yourself early enough near the stage in front of the Kondō: the spots close by fill up quickly. A standard zoom (24–70 mm) allows you to frame both the participant and the kagami-mochi, while a slightly longer focal length lets you capture facial expressions during the effort.

The goma hearth with the monks in saffron robes and the rising smoke is also very photogenic. However, be careful of lighting variations (smoke, flames, backlighting): remember to check your histogram and shoot in RAW if you want to recover highlights. Avoid using flash during the rituals, out of respect for the ceremony.

Weather

Since the festival takes place on February 23, it is still late winter in Kyoto. Daytime temperatures generally range around 5 to 10 °C, with mornings sometimes close to 0 °C. Plan for layers of clothing (thermal base layer, sweater or fleece, coat) and a warm hat: you often stand outside for long periods.

The Daigo-ji site is vast, with shaded and sometimes slightly damp areas. Closed and comfortable shoes, suitable for walking, are much more practical than thin sneakers. In case of rain, bring an umbrella or raincoat: outdoor ceremonies usually continue.

Transport

The easiest way is to take the Tōzai subway to Daigo Station, then walk 10 to 15 minutes to the temple. On February 23, the line and buses may be busier than usual, but overall it remains smooth.

By bus, the Keihan Bus lines from Kyoto Station, JR Yamashina, or Rokujizō drop off at the Daigoji-mae stop, practically in front of the main gate. If you come by car, plan to arrive early in the morning to find parking and avoid traffic jams near the site.

Visitor Tips

If you want to obtain a Godaiki-son Miei, aim to arrive in the early morning. Distribution usually continues throughout the day, but the line is often shorter just after opening.

For the Mochi-age, the sun can be quite strong or very contrasting depending on the weather. A cap or a cap-beanie is useful to avoid being dazzled in the middle of the contest. Also remember to have some cash on you: some stalls do not accept card payments.

Feel free to combine the festival with a quieter visit to Daigo-ji before or after peak hours (early morning or late afternoon). The gardens and pagoda offer beautiful scenes in every season, even in winter.

What to Bring

• Warm layered clothing, suitable for a day outside in late winter.
• Comfortable shoes for walking long distances within the temple grounds.
• A versatile lens (24–70 mm or equivalent) if you plan to photograph the Mochi-age and fire rituals.
• A small bag to carry talismans, omamori, and brochures without being burdened.
• Some cash for amulets, donations, and food stalls.

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Sources & References

• Daigo-ji (JP) – Official page "Godai Rikison Ninno-e"

  Complete presentation of the ceremony: role of the Godai Myōō, meaning of the prayer "seven calamities removed, seven blessings given", description of the Ninnō-e Hōyō in the kondō, the "Kondō naihai" and the mochi-age chikara hōnō, information on the Miei and general calendar.

• Daigo-ji (EN) – "Godai-Rikison Ninno-e festival"

  Official English version summarizing the event: origin in the era of Emperor Daigo, purpose to pray for peace, health, and national happiness, and mention of the popularity of "Godairiki-san" in Kyoto.

• Kyoto Travel – Event sheet "Godai Rikison Ninno-e [Daigo-ji]"

  Detailed sheet for the 2025 edition: date February 23, 2025, schedule of the Miei distribution, the Ninnō-e Hōyō and the mochi-age (men's and women's sections), reminder of the protective role of the ceremony.

• Kyoto Prefecture – "Godai Rikison Ninno-e" (Kyoto Tourism)

  Institutional presentation of the event: status as the largest annual ceremony of Daigo-ji, explanation of the prayer for the nation, role of the mochi-age and popularity of the talisman Godairikison Miei.

• Souda Kyoto – "Godai Rikison Ninno-e"

  Article on the tradition of the Ninnō-e at Daigo-ji for over 1,100 years, list of the five great kings of wisdom, description of the "Kondō naihai" and the mochi-age chikara hōnō, mention of weights of 150 kg (men) and 90 kg (women).

• Kyoto Tabiya – "Daigo-ji Godai Rikison Ninno-e 2023"

  2023 visit report: explanations on the popularity of the Miei in Kyoto, detailed description of the atmosphere of the mochi-age, clarifications on the adapted form of the event (time limit, number of participants) after the pandemic.

• Kyoto Tabiya – "Daigo-ji Godai Rikison Ninno-e 2021"

  Article on the 2021 edition: history of the mochi-age (appeared post-war), details on the classic contest format, the weights of the kagamimochi, the title of "yokozuna" and adaptations related to the health situation.

• Oh! Matsuri – "Godai Rikison Ninno-e"

  Brief English sheet on the festival, highlighting that it is the largest event of Daigo-ji, the high attendance (over 100,000 people) and the prayer for national peace.

• Kyoto Travel Info – "Daigo-ji Godai Rikison Ninno-e"

  Summary article (history, calendar, symbolism) on the Godai Rikison Ninnō-e, with reminder of the dates (cycle from February 15 to 23), presentation of the esoteric significance of the rite and focus on the mochi-age.