Toshodaiji Uchiwa-maki: The Heart-Shaped Treasure Fan Rite
A May 19 memorial at Toshodaiji for the monk Kakujō, followed by a controlled distribution of heart-shaped hōsen fans when the temple announces it will take place.
Verified site photographs are being prepared.Discover Toshodaiji Uchiwa-maki: The Heart-Shaped Treasure Fan Rite
Uchiwa-maki, the fan-throwing rite, is part of Chūkōki Bonmō-e, a memorial observance for Kakujō, a medieval monk associated with Toshodaiji's revival. Nara City's tourism association recounts the story that Kakujō would not kill mosquitoes even when bitten, saying that offering his own blood could be a bodhisattva's practice. Devotees began offering fans in his memory; the heart-shaped fans are called hōsen, or treasure fans. The observance combines a Buddhist service and a tightly managed fan distribution from the temple's drum tower. It is not an everyday fan-making workshop or a guaranteed chance for every visitor to catch a fan: participant tickets, age and health restrictions, and a separate drawing can apply, and the temple may change the procedure for safety.
Understand the story behind the fan
The rite recalls Kakujō's compassion toward living beings. The tourism association describes him refusing to kill mosquitoes even when they drew blood, and devotees later offering fans in memory of him. The heart-shaped hōsen are associated with protection from illness and misfortune in local belief. Explain this as a devotional tradition, not a medical guarantee. The distinctive shape and distribution from the drum tower make the day visually memorable, while the service itself is a temple observance; visitors should keep a respectful distance and avoid treating the monks' ritual as a performance staged for tourists.
Know that participation is limited
For 2026, Nara City Tourism Association listed a 09:00 start for distributing participation tickets, a 13:00 memorial service and a 15:00 fan rite. It reported that direct participation required a ticket and was limited for safety to healthy people aged 20–60. A separate lottery ticket was distributed to visitors between 09:00 and 14:30, with results announced at 15:00. Those are the 2026 procedures, which ended on 19 May; they are not a confirmed 2027 arrangement. The association's page says the previous year's participation tickets were limited to the first 300 people, so capacity should not be assumed without a new notice.
Plan the temple visit as well as the annual event
Toshodaiji's regular visitor page lists 08:30–17:00 opening, with admission accepted until 16:30, and individual admission of ¥1,000 for adults and university students, ¥400 for high-school and junior-high students, and ¥200 for elementary pupils. It lists the same address as the event and identifies Kintetsu Nishinokyo Station as the nearest station. The temple lists a paid car park for 150 passenger cars, open 08:00–18:00; its published rate is ¥550 for the first 60 minutes and ¥110 for each additional 30 minutes. An event-day space guarantee is not stated, so rail may be simpler when crowds are expected. These are ordinary published visitor terms; event-day entry and distribution rules may differ. Read that year's official notice before travelling, and do not infer that temple admission alone secures an event ticket.
Reach the precinct and follow safety guidance
The temple is at 13-46 Gojo-cho, Nara City. Toshodaiji's visitor page identifies Nishinokyo Station and bus stops called Toshodaiji and Toshodaiji Higashiguchi. Nara City Tourism Association gives a roughly ten-minute walk from the station, or a bus approach from JR or Kintetsu Nara Station. Large crowds can make the entrance and surrounding paths slower than usual. Keep clear of temple approaches and neighboring roads, follow queue instructions, and leave the fan-catching area to the people admitted under the current safety rules.
What to look for
A memorial service rooted in the story of Kakujō's compassion
Heart-shaped hōsen fans are distributed under event-day safety controls
The 2026 procedure has ended; check Toshodaiji's next official notice before attending
Photo notes
The Nara City Tourism Association explicitly prohibits unauthorized reuse of its event photographs. No third-party event image is included. Ask before photographing worshippers, volunteers or temple grounds during a service; obey current temple signs and do not obstruct queues or the distribution area.
SEASONAL CALENDAR
Events connected with Toshodaiji Uchiwa-maki: The Heart-Shaped Treasure Fan Rite
These records are shared with MyNara’s event calendar, so dates and notices have one source. Recurring patterns are not confirmed dated editions; check the organizer’s latest guidance.
Tōshōdai-ji Uchiwa-maki Fan Rite
Tōshōdai-ji holds this distinctive annual fan rite on May 19, the death anniversary of its restorer Kakujō. After the Chūkōki Bonmō-e memorial service, several hundred heart-shaped fans are scattered from the Shari-den bell tower. The temple says participation tickets are distributed on the day; the Nara City Tourism Association's 2026 notice scheduled the service for 13:00 and the fan rite for 15:00, with ticketed participation limited for safety to healthy people aged 20–60. Those terms describe the 2026 notice, not a guarantee for future years; check the temple's current instructions. The visitor listing does not state whether a separate event fee applies.
Check organizer informationMake a day of it
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Sources & editorial status
Original MyNara draft based on the linked sources. Sources reviewed 25 October 2026. Opening arrangements, prices and offers may change; use the operator's current information before travelling.