Ayado’s traditional Bon observance, with lanterns and the sound of gongs echoing through the mountain village
Ayado’s Night Nenbutsu and Bon Odori
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- Annually on August 10 and the 15th / Every year
- Location
- The grounds of Heisho-ji Temple
- Area
- Aichi Prefecture・Toyota City(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 40 min–2 h · bullet train)Prefecture-level estimate to a main station or airport, not the venue. Airport access, check-in and onward travel are extra; remote areas and islands can take much longer.
- Highlights and activities
- Wishes behind the festival
- Participation / viewing
- Open to public participation / spectators welcome
- Participation fee
- Free
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
At the grounds of Heisho-ji Temple in Ayado, Toyota City, participants chant nenbutsu together while striking gongs during the night nenbutsu, followed by without musical instruments, accompanied by the sound of geta sandals.
About Ayado’s Night Nenbutsu and Bon Odori
Ayado’s Night Nenbutsu and Bon Odori is a Bon observance passed down primarily at the grounds of Heisho-ji Temple in Ayado, Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture.
Local people form a procession and chant nenbutsu together while striking gongs, followed by Bon Odori without musical instruments.
It is designated as a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property and is also inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list as one of the “Furyu-odori” dances.
A folk performing art passed down in a mountain village, combining nenbutsu chanting and dance as a single sequence.
Source: 国指定文化財等データベース
Festival highlights
A highlight is the procession carrying kiriko lanterns along the approach, stopping at 5 places to chant nenbutsu together.
The first and last lanterns depict scenes of paradise and hell, respectively.
After the night nenbutsu, people dance in a circle around 2 oriko lanterns, accompanied by the sound of geta sandals stepping on the sandy ground, like musical accompaniment.
The dances with fluttering fans and the variety of Bon Odori songs are also memorable.
Ayado’s traditional Bon observance, with lanterns and the sound of gongs echoing through the mountain village
What to expect
After preparing their equipment, members of the preservation association move to the entrance of the temple approach and begin the night nenbutsu shortly after 7 p.m.
Chanting the “Michi Ondo,” the procession heads to Heisho-ji Temple, where participants chant nenbutsu together at 5 places: in front of the stone Buddha, at the temple gate, at Kannon Hall, at Shinmei Shrine, and in front of the main hall.
When the night nenbutsu ends, Bon Odori continues around the oriko lanterns in the , with around 10 songs danced to singing and refrains.
How to take part
The Yoru Nenbutsu is mainly carried out by the preservation society, but women and children who watched the Yoru Nenbutsu also join the circle during the Bon dance.
Visitors are shown joining the Bon dance, so there is an opportunity to take part in the dancing.
The procession and the roles involved in reciting nenbutsu during the Yoru Nenbutsu are carried out as part of the preservation society’s activities.
The Yoru Nenbutsu is performed by members of the preservation society, who prepare items such as hiragasa hats and gongs and follow assigned roles and formations.
Visitors can watch the procession move and join in the group recitation of nenbutsu at five locations, then take part in the circle during the Bon dance.
No specific information is provided about how to register or apply to join the Bon dance.
Location and access
- Venue and address
The grounds of Heisho-ji Temple (〒444-2418 Oku 12, Ayado-cho, Toyota City).
- Train and bus
From Toyota-shi Station on the Meitetsu Mikawa Line, transfer to the Meitetsu Toyota Line. At Josui Station, take the Sanage-Asuke Community Bus toward Hyakunen Kusa, and get off at Hyakunen Kusa.
The walk takes about 76 minutes.
- By car
It is about 40 minutes from Rikishi IC on the Sanage Green Road.
- Parking
There is no parking near the venue.
You can use a paid parking lot near Korankei and take the free sightseeing bus, which requires advance reservations.
Source: 綾渡の夜念仏と盆踊 | イベント検索 | 【公式】愛知県の観光サイトAichi Now
Address 〒444-2418 Oku 12, Ayado-cho, Toyota City
Dates and season
The event took place in 2026 on August 10 and August 15.
The night nenbutsu is scheduled to begin around 7 p.m., followed by Bon Odori from around 8:20 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
The event is held annually on August 10 and the 15th.
Accommodation and hotels PR
Showing nearby accommodation.
Prices and availability are current at the time of retrieval. For multi-night stays, only the first night’s price is shown. Confirm the final price and directions to the venue with the booking provider. Select your dates again when using the area search link. Search area: within 3 km of Central Aichi Prefecture / Toyota City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
As this event is a Buddhist observance, it is important to watch quietly at the venue.
Flash photography is prohibited.
There is no parking near the venue, and the 2026 sightseeing bus is listed as requiring advance reservations, so it is a good idea to check your transportation options ahead of time.
Nearby attractions
Nearby, you can visit the streets of Asuke, designated as a National Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings.
Rows of tsumairi and hirairi houses extend for about 2 kilometers, preserving the atmosphere of the late Edo period through the end of the Meiji period.
The 2026 sightseeing bus tour combined a visit to Ayado’s night nenbutsu and Bon Odori with a visit to the streets of Asuke.
Source: 【定員に達したため受付終了】ユネスコ無形文化遺産「綾渡の夜念仏と盆踊」見学バスツアー | 【公式】愛知県豊田市の観光サイト「ツーリズムとよた」
豊田市博物館
愛知県豊田市にある市立の博物館
豊田市美術館
愛知県豊田市にある市立の現代美術館
Origins and History of Ayado’s Night Nenbutsu and Bon Odori
The origins of Ayado’s night nenbutsu and Bon Odori are unclear, but stone monuments commemorating night nenbutsu from the Edo period have been found in the surrounding area.
The oldest monument is inscribed with Kansei 6 (1794), and it is thought that night nenbutsu was performed in many places in the area during the Edo period.
The event began taking place on the new calendar on August 10 and the 15th, as it does today, around Showa 40. Ayado is said to be the only place where the night nenbutsu and Bon Odori without musical instruments are still passed down as a continuous event.
Official information
Event information is posted on Aichi Now, Aichi Prefecture’s tourism website.
The detailed page for “Ayado’s Night Nenbutsu and Bon Odori” on Toyota City’s official website is also listed as related information.
Ayado’s Night Nenbutsu and Bon Odori at a Glance
Ayado’s Night Nenbutsu and Bon Odori is a traditional event in Toyota City that brings together a procession, the sound of gongs, group nenbutsu chanting, and Bon Odori without musical instruments in a continuous sequence.
At the grounds of Heisho-ji Temple, you can see a procession carrying lanterns and dances accompanied by the sound of geta sandals.
In 2026, the event was held on August 10 and the 15th, and visitors were asked to observe quietly as it is a nighttime Buddhist observance.
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/10/19
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