Zentsu-ji is the birthplace of Kukai, the monk who founded Shingon Buddhism, and once a year an image of him is carried in procession through the town that bears his name.
Overview
Zentsu-ji is temple number 75 on the Shikoku pilgrimage and one of the three most important sites associated with Kukai, better known by his posthumous title Kobo Daishi. The Kukai Matsuri commemorates his return from Mount Koya to make offerings to his ancestors, and is held on the anniversary of the death of his father, Saeki Yoshimichi.
It is a temple festival rather than a shrine one, which gives it a different texture: a formal memorial service at its heart, wrapped in a day of very local entertainment.
When and where
The festival takes place on 3 November every year, a national holiday in Japan (Culture Day), so in 2026 that is Tuesday 3 November. The procession moves through the town during the day before returning to the temple grounds for the main service.
Nearest station: JR Zentsuji, about a ten-minute walk from the temple.
Getting there
JR Zentsuji is on the Dosan line, roughly 40 minutes from Takamatsu and 15 minutes from Kotohira, making it easy to combine the two. From Okayama, allow about 80 minutes with a change at Tadotsu or Marugame.
The temple’s east and west precincts are both within a few minutes’ walk of each other, and the whole site is flat.
What to expect
The day mixes ritual with a village-fair atmosphere.
- A palanquin carrying a seated image of Kukai, paraded through the streets of Zentsuji
- A large memorial service (daihoyo) in the temple precincts afterwards
- Naki-zumo, a crying-baby sumo contest, one of the festival’s best-known side events
- Lion dance offerings, an amateur singing contest and a flea market
- The 45-metre five-storey pagoda and the 1,200-year-old camphor trees in the grounds
Tickets and admission
Free to attend. The main precincts are open without charge; the treasure hall and the kaidan-meguri underground passage have separate admission fees on normal days and are worth checking on arrival.
Tips for visitors
3 November is a public holiday, so expect Japanese families rather than international crowds – it is a good festival for a relaxed pace. Pair it with Kotohira-gu on the same rail line for a full day out. If you want to see the crying-baby sumo, ask at the temple office for the timing when you arrive, as the schedule shifts year to year.
Access and map
| Dates | 3 November 2026 |
|---|---|
| Venue | Zentsu-ji temple and central Zentsuji, Kagawa |
| Access | JR Zentsuji station, 10 minutes on foot |
| Admission | Free (some halls charge separately) |
| Official site | Zentsu-ji temple |
Source: Zentsu-ji temple official site
Image: Photo: 663highland / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.5
