Awashima Koyasu Enmei Jizo-son Festival

About this event

Held at 1-22-2 Awashima, Gosen City (Awashima Park), the "Awashima Koyasu Enmei Jizo-son Festival" is a celebration of the Koyasu Enmei Jizo statue enshrined approximately 170 years ago. It was traditionally held on August 23 every year, but in Reiwa 8 (2026) it has been changed to Saturday, October 10. During the festival, sutras are chanted by the chief priest of Hyakukannon-in, followed by nembutsu prayers chanted by the Jizo devotee group together with the chief priest. Before COVID-19, one could also see the scene of people forming a circle and chanting "Hyakumanben Nembutsu" while passing around a large string of prayer beads. This Koyasu Enmei Jizo statue is also called "Koyasu Jizo-son" because it holds a child, and has been affectionately known as the "Great Jizo of Shimomachi" since it was originally enshrined in front of Okawa. In the early Tenpo era (about 160 years ago), an itinerant ascetic (Rokubu) traveling across Japan secluded himself on Mount Tateyama in Etchu, vowed to erect a Jizo statue peerless across Japan, returned to Gosen, carved a large rock discovered on Mount Tokura, and had it transported by hundreds of ascetics and pious men and women to be enshrined in front of Okawa, making it a rare large stone Buddha statue in the nation. In 1968 (Showa 43), it was relocated to Awashima Park due to road expansion. The height of the Jizo statue is 2.88 meters, the pedestal is 1.1 meters, and the circumference of the lotus pedestal is 7 meters. Detailed information regarding this year's festival will be announced as soon as it is decided.

Venue

Awashima Park

1 Awashima, Gosen, Niigata 959-1861