Yozuku Hyakumanben Nenbutsu

Festival highlights

Its most distinctive feature is a unique ritual in which a giant bead rosary of 302 beads is looped over a pulley on a pillar and swung in wide arcs by the men.

After one person dressed in the garb of a Shugendo practitioner enters the ritual hall and offers a prayer, the nenbutsu begins, accompanied by large taiko drums, shime-daiko, and flutes.

Five-colored shimenawa in red, white, blue, yellow, and black are hung from the ceiling of the ritual hall. They are said to ward off epidemics when hung at the entrances of individual homes.

A traditional Yamakita event featuring a giant bead rosary, taiko, and nenbutsu

What to expect

The event begins with a prayer by one person dressed in the garb of a Shugendo practitioner. Then, accompanied by taiko and flutes, participants chant the nenbutsu and swing the giant bead rosary.

After the nenbutsu ends, young men perform shishimai. However, the shishimai is not part of the Hyakumanben Nenbutsu itself; it is thought to have become a concurrently held event at some point.

At the end, the shishi floats a gohei down the river, bringing the event to a close.

Location and access

Venue and address

Nōanji Temple in Mukōhara, Yamakita Town

Train and bus

Nōanji Temple, near Higashiyamakita Station

Source: 世附（よづく）の百万遍念仏 丹沢湖 | 丹沢湖 神奈川やまなみ五湖navi

Event venue 神奈川県山北町 能安寺

This map uses the venue name. Check the official guide for the event area and entrances.

Open in Google Maps

Dates and season

Season

Mid-February, Saturday and Sunday

Frequency

Around the 2nd Saturday and Sunday of February each year

Accommodation and hotels PR

Origins and History of Yozuku Hyakumanben Nenbutsu

The Yozuku Hyakumanben Nenbutsu is a nenbutsu faith tradition said to date back 600 years.

It was once held at Nōanji Temple in Yozuku, between the 15th and 17th of the month. After the area was submerged due to the construction of Miho Dam, it was moved to its current location at Nōanji Temple in Mukōhara.

It is now held in mid-February on a Saturday and Sunday.

Official information

The Agency for Cultural Affairs’ “Cultural Heritage Online” lists the Yozuku Hyakumanben Nenbutsu as an Important Cultural Property designated by Kanagawa Prefecture.

Yozuku Hyakumanben Nenbutsu at a Glance

The Yozuku Hyakumanben Nenbutsu is a nenbutsu faith tradition in Yamakita Town said to date back 600 years.

Its distinctive form involves swinging a giant bead rosary of 302 beads looped over a pulley and chanting the nenbutsu to the accompaniment of taiko and flutes. Shishimai performed after the nenbutsu and five-colored shimenawa are also part of the tradition.

Following its relocation due to the construction of Miho Dam, the event is now held at Nōanji Temple in Mukōhara.