The prayers of Oki, conveyed through the 600 volumes of the Great Perfection of Wisdom Sutra and the young men’s journey back and forth
Hannyasama
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- January, 2nd Sunday / Every year
- Location
- Daijuin
- Area
- Aichi Prefecture・Toyokawa 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
- Last updated
- 2026/10/24
Hannyasama, passed down in the Oki district of Toyokawa City, Aichi Prefecture, is a local festival associated with the ritual reading of the Great Perfection of Wisdom Sutra. It has been passed down as a local observance held at Daijuin to pray for the safety of households and a good harvest.
About Hannyasama
Hannyasama is a festival associated with the ritual reading of the Great Perfection of Wisdom Sutra, passed down for generations in the Oki district of Toyokawa City.
The event is held at Daijuin, a Sōtō Zen temple, and monks gather from 6 villages around Oki: Shinoda, Nishihara, Ashiyamada, Nagakusa, and Tarui.
This event involves ritually reading the 600 volumes of the Great Perfection of Wisdom Sutra and praying for the safety of households and a good harvest in the coming year. It is designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of the city.
This local traditional event is held every year on January, the 2nd Sunday.
Source: 大樹院 | ぐるっと豊川 | 豊川市観光協会
Festival highlights
The central event is the monks’ ritual reading of the 600 volumes of the Great Perfection of Wisdom Sutra.
During the sutra-reading ceremony, young men wearing carry a completed sutra volume back to their own village, pray for the safety of their households, and then return to Daijuin. This ritual is part of the event.
This timed journey, with the young men returning before the monks have finished reading all the sutras, is a distinctive feature of the festival.
On the same day, male and female symbols made from daikon radish, called daibiki, are also offered at the Oki Kaikan community hall.
The prayers of Oki, conveyed through the 600 volumes of the Great Perfection of Wisdom Sutra and the young men’s journey back and forth
What to expect
At the festival, monks gathered from 6 villages perform the ritual reading of the Great Perfection of Wisdom Sutra at Daijuin.
During the ceremony, young men wearing happi carry a completed sutra volume back to their assigned village and pray for the safety of their households.
The young men return to Daijuin before the monks have finished reading the entire sutra.
On the same day, daibiki are offered at the Oki Kaikan community hall as part of the festival.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Daijuin, 2-12 Oki Shinmachi-dori, Toyokawa City, Aichi Prefecture
- Train and bus
JR Iida Line, toward Mikawa-Ichinomiya Station.
Cross the railroad crossing northeast of the station, then go about 200 m southwest along Prefectural Route 498.
- By car
From Prefectural Route 498 to Daijuin
Address 2-12 Oki Shinmachi-dori, Toyokawa City, Aichi Prefecture
Dates and season
- Season
January, 2nd Sunday
- Frequency
Every year
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 / Toyokawa City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Nearby attractions
御油の松並木資料館
愛知県豊川市の博物館・美術館のスポットです。
砥鹿神社
愛知県豊川市にある神社
豊川市桜ヶ丘ミュージアム
愛知県豊川市にある博物館と美術館の機能を持つ複合文化施設
Origins and History of Hannyasama
Hannyasama was once held at the Jinguji temple within Oki Susao Shrine, about 2.5 km northwest of Daijuin.
At the time, monks from 6 villages around Oki are said to have gathered, with a monk from Zaigaji serving as the officiant.
The festival was moved to Daijuin after the Meiji period, becoming the event known today.
The Great Perfection of Wisdom Sutra and its storage boxes are owned by Oki Susao Shrine and kept in a storehouse next to Daijuin.
Official information
The Toyokawa Tourism Association’s “Gurutto Toyokawa” page about Daijuin provides an overview of Hannyasama, details of the event, its origins, and the venue address.
Hannyasama at a Glance
Hannyasama is a festival associated with the ritual reading of the Great Perfection of Wisdom Sutra, held every year on January, the 2nd Sunday, in the Oki district of Toyokawa City.
Monks from 6 villages gather at Daijuin to ritually read the 600 volumes of the Great Perfection of Wisdom Sutra and pray for the safety of households and a good harvest.
The event is also known for a ritual in which young men carry sutras back and forth between their village and Daijuin, and for offerings of daibiki made from daikon radish at the Oki Kaikan community hall.
Since the Meiji period, it has been held at Daijuin and has been designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of the city.
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/10/24
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