Apotropaic Ganzan-daishi Festival

Yakuyoke-daishi (Buddhist temples for avoidance of bad luck) in Ashikaga holds Yakuyoke-Taisai (Apotropaic grand festival) in the new year.

Ganzan-daishi means Hieizan's 18th Jie Diaishi (Priest Ryougen) 
Because he passed away January 3rd in 985, he is called as "Ganzan-daishi"

Daishi, the founder of "Omikuji" (Fortunetelling), is also known as "Yakuyoke-daishi" or "Tsuno-daishi" 
 

Ryusenji Temple <Sukedo Ganzan-daishi>

Ashikaga Yakuyoke-daishi-Taisai (Apotropaic grand festival) is an event that has begun when the temple founded and been continued for over 700 years.

The lucky Gala-Maki ceremony (threw the lucky items for the worship visitors) and Daruma-ichi (selling daruma) festival are crowded with many people.

Date ：Janurary 1st  ～ February 3rd … Yakuyoke-Taisai
　　　  Janurary 2nd and 3rd             … Daruma ichi (9:00 am ～5:00 pm)
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　             　 Gala-maki ceremony (January 2nd 1:00 pm～  January 3rd 11:00, 3:00 pm～

Contact ：Ryusenji Temple　Phone:+81-284-41-5685  （1-652 Sukedo, Ashikaga City）
 

Teraokasan Yakushiji<Teraokasan Ganzan-daishi>

Teraokasan Ganzan-daishi was founded in Nara period and it is only one temple that has "Izimeyoke Kannon" (God of Mercy to prevent bullying) in Japan.

During the Ashikaga Yakuyoke-daishi-Taisai event, there is a ceremony called "Osyusen-maki", in which the offerings of the previous year are wrapped and thrown to the worship-visitors. It is crowded with a large number of people as it throws many items such as sweets and household items etc.
 

Date： Janary 1st  12:00 am…Yakuyoke Goma Kigan
(Yakuyoke: Get rid of Bad Luck, Goma:a Buddhist ceremony using fire to pray the happines, Kigan: Pray)
         　　　　　　　　　　　　  Gohonzon Gokaicho (Gohonzon: the principal object of worship, Gokaicho:Opening the Gate)
　　　　Janurary 2nd and 3rd 12:00 pm… Osyusen Maki 
　　　   　　　　　　　　　　   　12:30 pm… Lottery for free (only for Child)
　　　  January 3rd         8:00 am～5:00 pm… Special Statue Gokaicho 

Contact ：Teraokasan Ganzan-daishi　Phone:+81-284-91-3236　（871 Teraokacho, Ashikaga City）

Houshouji Temple＜Horigome Yakushi＞

It has been popular since the ancient time as prayer temple for warding off evil sprits, and has been famous under the name of "Horigome Yakushi". There is a grave of Genta Horigome who made the "Yagibushi".
 

Date：January 1st ～５th Oogoma-Kitou (Goma:a Buddhist ceremony using fire to pray the happines, Kitou: Pray) ≪9:00 am ～4:00 pm≫（Until 3:00 pm in January 5th）
　　　January 4th Yakuyoke Taisai (Apotropaic grand festival) ≪7:30 am ～4:30 pm≫（Goma-Kitou is until 3:00 pm）
　　　January 6th～19th Pray of Beginning of the Year ≪9:00 am ～4:00 pm≫

In Yakuyoke-daishi-Taisai, a local dedication of Yagibushi is held by Horigome-cho Yagibushi Preservation Society's member in front of the grave of originator "Genta Horigome" who spread Yagibushi throughout the country.

Contact：Houshouji Temple Phone:+81-284-71-2743　（2023 Horigomecho, Ashikaga City）