A traditional religious ceremony called Bo-iri

At a glance

Naritasan Shinshoji Temple also has a traditional religious ceremony called Bo-iri. This involves offering sacred sake and vegetarian cuisine to believers who have solemnly completed the Great Goma Fire Pilgrimage.
The vegetarian cuisine includes a dish called "Oura burdock," a stew that can only be enjoyed here. "Oura burdock" is a type of burdock grown in the Oura district of Chiba Prefecture. It's incredibly impressive, measuring up to 1 meter in length, 30 cm in circumference, and weighing 4-5 kg. The best quality burdock is delivered to Naritasan Shinshoji Temple and rarely found on the market.
Boiled sweetly for 2-3 days, it's so tender and delicious you'd never guess it was burdock. It was once served to Fujiwara no Hidesato when he prayed at Naritasan Shinshoji Temple for his conquest of Taira no Masakado, and was said to have resulted in victory. Hence the name "winning burdock," or "winning burdock."

goma place Goma sacred fire ritual Guide

How can you receive Buddhist vegetarian cuisine (bo-iri) at Naritasan?

How can you receive Buddhist vegetarian cuisine (bo-iri) at Naritasan?

  1. １．If you receive a large goma ceremony worth 30,000 yen or more, up to three people can receive Buddhist vegetarian cuisine.
  2. ２．Even for goma ceremony costs less than 30,000 yen, you can receive it for 1,000 yen per person. Please apply at the same time as applying for the goma ceremony.
  3. ３．You can also apply for a day trip bus tour.
  4. ４．You can also apply for a group of several dozen people.

The meal for temple entrants at Naritasan includes sacred sake but no rice.
Rice is not included because diners are asked to eat at the shops along the approach to the temple.
Naritasan also does not have any temple lodgings. This is a consideration for the shops, hotels, and inns along the approach to the temple.

goma place

Naritasan's Bo-irizen meal

A particularly famous part of Naritasan's Bo-irizen meal is Oura burdock, a very large piece of burdock simmered in sweet soy sauce.
It is grown by around ten farms in the Oura district of Yokaichiba, Sosa City, Chiba Prefecture. It is designated a natural monument by the city.
When Fujiwara no Hidesato, a warlord in the mid-Heian period, offered the precious Oura burdock to the principal image of Fudo Myo-o and prayed for victory in battle, his wish was granted and the Taira no Masakado Rebellion was put to rest. A celebration was held, and Oura burdock was served.
For this reason, it is also called "winning burdock."

goma gomaki
goma gomaki

The place where the Bo-iri is held　is wheelchair accessible.

After the goma prayer, we head to the third floor of Korinkaku, where the ritual takes place. Inside the venue, tables covered with white tablecloths are arranged in a U-shape on a red carpet laid out on tatami mats. Sitting on backless chairs naturally straightens your back.

Korinkaku has elevators and ramps, and wheelchairs can easily move around on the tatami mats.

goma fuda

Tourist spot want to visit(I)

We introduce barrier-free tourist spots in Chiba Prefecture divided into 12 travel Themes.

Tourist spot want to visit(II)

We introduce barrier-free tourist spots in Chiba Prefecture divided into 12 travel Themes.