Kamakura’s Kuro Jizo Ennichi: remembering the deceased amid lantern light and sutra chanting
Kuro Jizo Ennichi
The 2026 edition of Kuro Jizo Ennichi has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/08/10Ended
- Season / frequency
- Every year on August 10 (from after midnight on the night of August 9 until noon on the 10th) / Every year
- Location
- Kakuonji
- Area
- Kanagawa Prefecture・Kamakura City(From Tokyo: approx. 30 min–1 h · 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.
- Wishes behind the festival
- Participation / viewing
- Spectators welcome
- Participation fee
- A memorial pagoda for Segaki services costs 3,000 yen per pagoda.
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
The Kuro Jizo Ennichi, where visitors entrust their thoughts of the deceased to the Black Jizo statue, is held at Kakuonji in Nikaido, Kamakura City. This is an event for quiet prayer and memorial observances in the , where memorial sutras resonate.
About Kuro Jizo Ennichi
The Kuro Jizo Ennichi is an event held at Kakuonji in Nikaido, Kamakura City, where visitors entrust their thoughts of the deceased to the Black Jizo statue as they worship.
The Black Jizo is revered as a compassionate Jizo who eases the suffering of sinners tormented by fire.
It is an important part of Kamakura’s prayer tradition, where bereaved families marking their first Obon after a death and others remember the deceased and pray for their peaceful rest and for the happiness of the living.
Festival highlights
Highlights include the memorial sutras that continue to resonate throughout the temple grounds from midnight until noon, and the peaceful atmosphere surrounded by lantern light.
The Black Jizo statue is about 1.8 meters tall and is also known as a Jizo statue designated as an Important Cultural Property by the national government.
Rather than enjoying lively festivities, the event centers on taking time to remember the deceased and reflect in prayer amid the lights and silence.
Kamakura’s Kuro Jizo Ennichi: remembering the deceased amid lantern light and sutra chanting
What to expect
Visitors go to Kakuonji to pray to the Black Jizo and the Yakushi Triad statues, and seek memorial prayers for deceased family members, ancestors, and others.
During the Segaki service, prayers are offered for all spirits, including not only the deceased but also spirits connected to people and those with no connections.
Those marking their first Obon after a death or wishing to honor the deceased may also apply for a memorial pagoda.
Source: 鎌倉 覚園寺
How to take part
You may visit as a worshipper.
Information is available on applying for Segaki memorial services regardless of religious affiliation, including for those marking their first Obon after a death or wishing to honor their ancestors.
Check Kakuonji’s guidance before your visit for details on general participation and any attendance limits.
To apply for a memorial pagoda for Segaki services, you can apply in advance or on the day of the event at the special Segaki registration desk at Sentaido Hall.
Advance applications open in July of the current year. Since the application deadline varies depending on the information provided, check Kakuonji’s guidance for the current year.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Kakuonji (421 Nikaido, Kamakura)
- Train and bus
From Kamakura Station, take a bus to Daitonomiya, then walk 10 minutes.
- Parking
The parking lot will be completely closed during the Kuro Jizo Ennichi.
Address 421 Nikaido, Kamakura, Kanagawa
Dates and season
2026 event information (the listed dates have passed)
In 2026, it will be held on August 10 (month), from 12 a.m. to noon.
The gates open at midnight on August 9, that is, at 12 a.m. on August 10.
The event is held every year on August 10, but check the participation requirements and event-day information shortly before your visit.
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 Kanagawa Prefecture / Kamakura City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
Photography is prohibited on the temple grounds.
Please be considerate of local residents and other worshippers, and keep quiet in the temple grounds and along the way.
If visiting from late at night through the early morning, it is a good idea to be considerate of those around you and plan your return transportation in advance.
Nearby attractions
佐助稲荷神社
神奈川県鎌倉市佐助にある神社
写真：Houze from San Francisco / CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo source ·
鎌倉宮
神奈川県鎌倉市二階堂にある神社
鶴岡八幡宮
神奈川県鎌倉市雪ノ下にある神社
Origins and History of Kuro Jizo Ennichi
The Kuro Jizo Obon is a memorial worship event for the deceased, said to have become established around the Edo period.
There are several accounts of the custom of opening the gates at midnight, including that it was intended to let people entrust their thoughts to the Black Jizo early, and that it was out of concern for those traveling long distances on foot and their return journey.
The event has been passed down as an occasion when many people, including bereaved families marking their first Obon after a death, come to honor the deceased.
Official information
Kakuonji’s official website provides information about the origins of the Kuro Jizo Ennichi, Segaki memorial services, and how to apply for memorial pagodas, among other details.
Check Kakuonji’s latest guidance before your visit for the participation requirements and the status of registration on the day.
Kuro Jizo Ennichi at a Glance
The Kuro Jizo Ennichi is a worship event held every year at Kakuonji on August 10, where people pray for the repose of the deceased and the happiness of their families.
Sutra chanting continues from midnight until noon, as visitors entrust their thoughts to the Black Jizo statue amid the lights and silence of the temple grounds.
Photography is prohibited, and the parking lot will be closed, so the basic plan is to visit quietly by public transportation.
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
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Article updated: 2026/10/19
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