Jinguji Temple in Obama City is an ancient temple famed for the Omizuri ceremony. Each year on March 2, sacred water drawn from the temple well known as the Akai is sent toward the Nigatsu-do hall of Todaiji in Nara. Ten days later, on March 12, this Wakasa water is used as sacred fragrant water (okosui) in the Todaiji Shuni-e ritual. This ceremony, with a history of over 1,200 years, continues to…

Said to have been founded in 724 (Jinki 1) by the monk Jingei at the request of the deity of Wakasa Hiko Jinja. The connection with Todaiji dates to the Nara period, and the legend that the deity Onyu Myojin promised to send water for the Nigatsu-do ceremony is considered the origin of Jinguji and t…