Yakuo-ji Temple New Year Hatsumode
Japanese name:薬王寺新春初詣
📅 Fri, Jan 1, 2027 - Sun, Jan 3, 2027
About this event
A New Year visit for warding off evil at the 23rd pilgrimage site of the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage, which is visited by 200,000 worshippers in typical years. The temple's name refers to the King of Medicine, and it is a nationally known primary prayer site for warding off evil. Crowds of worshippers continue from New Year's Eve through the first three days of the New Year. The nearest station is Hiwasa Station on the JR Mugi Line, accessible on foot in about 5 minutes, approximately 400m from the station to Yakuo-ji. Within the temple grounds are the 33-step Onna-Yakuzaka (women's misfortune-clearing staircase) and the 42-step Otoko-Yakuzaka (men's misfortune-clearing staircase), where there is a custom of offering a coin on each step to cast off bad luck. The vermilion Yugi Pagoda is one of the iconic structures symbolizing Yakuo-ji.
Source website (Japanese) ↗Venue
Yakuo-ji Temple
285-1 Okugawauchi Teramae, Minami-cho, Kaifu-gun, Tokushima 779-2305
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