On the night of August 29, 2026, the "Sen-to Kuyo" (Service of a Thousand Lights)—a seasonal tradition marking the end of summer in Kyoto—began at Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple in the Saga district of Ukyo Ward, Kyoto City. Amidst the rain, thousands of stone Buddha statues within the temple grounds were bathed in the glow of candles lit by visitors.
The Adashino area was historically a site for funerals and burials. It is said that the Sen-to Kuyo tradition began during the Meiji era after local residents collaborated to gather stone Buddhas and monuments that had been left without surviving families to tend to them.
Shortly after 6:00 p.m., a memorial service led by monks commenced. Visitors, holding umbrellas, made their way to the "Sai-no-Kawara" area—where rows of stone Buddhas stand—and quietly pressed their hands together in prayer. Despite the rain, the flickering candle flames remained alight, enveloping the temple grounds in an ethereal atmosphere.
A 61-year-old man visiting from Hirakata City, Osaka Prefecture, remarked, "I was born in Kyoto, so I had always wanted to come here at least once. The candlelight is beautiful; it made me think of my ancestors."
The event will also be held on the night of August 30, with admission accepted from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. A contribution to help maintain the event is required (1,000 yen for junior high school students and older).
