🪔 Sentōkuyō – A Thousand Lanterns for the Departed
Sentōkuyō (千灯供養), literally “a thousand-lantern memorial offering,” is held every year on August 13 at Yōgyokuin Nyoraiji Temple in Nishi-Ōi. On this evening, the temple grounds are transformed by hundreds of softly glowing lanterns, lit to welcome the spirits of ancestors and to offer prayer for all departed beings.
The ceremony centres on the temple’s Five Wisdom Buddhas (Gochi Nyorai), the source of Yōgyokuin’s long-standing nickname, Ōi no Ōbotoke (“the Great Buddha of Ōi”). A sacred flame is taken from before the Buddhas and passed carefully from hand to hand. That flame is then used to light lantern after lantern, until the precinct is filled with quiet, flickering light.
🌌 Sentōkuyō – for Ancestors and All Spirits
Sentōkuyō takes place during the Obon period, when ancestral spirits are believed to return to this world. At Yōgyokuin, the ritual is not celebratory or theatrical. It is slow, deliberate, and deeply focused. The lanterns do not float away; they remain within the temple grounds, marking paths and spaces with a restrained, almost timeless calm.
Local families return year after year, while first-time visitors tend to fall silent without being told. It is one of those Tokyo events where etiquette is learned simply by watching others.
🧭 Visitor Information
Event: Sentōkuyō (千灯供養)
Date: August 13, 2025
Time: Evening – typically 18:00 – according to 2025 information
Location: Yōgyokuin Nyoraiji Temple (養玉院如来寺)
Address: 5-22-25 Nishi-Ōi, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 140-0015
Admission: Free
Notes: This is a memorial service, not a festival. Please dress modestly, avoid flash photography, and follow the pace of the ritual.
Official source: Yōgyokuin Nyoraiji – Annual Events (年中行事)
📍 Where is it?
| what3words | ///chart.muddy.discount |
| latitude longitude | 35.597011, 139.717256 |
| Nearest station(s) | Nishi-Ōi Station (Yokosuka and Shonan Shinjuku lines) |
| Nearest public conveniences | Temple grounds and nearby parks |
🪧 Show me a sign
The Hyakkei sign is located near the temple entrance gate.
🖋️ Withervee Says…
I must admit I’m hesitant of intruding on a solemn occasion. However, it’s listed on the Shinagawa Tourism website.
📎 Sentōkuyō is not Bon Odori
Although Sentōkuyō takes place during the Obon period, it is not a Bon Odori festival. There is no music, no dance, and no celebratory gathering.
Bon Odori is outward-facing and communal, held in open spaces to welcome ancestral spirits through movement and sound. Sentōkuyō is inward-facing. It is a memorial service, centred on prayer, fire, and stillness.
The lanterns here are not released or displayed for spectacle. They mark presence, remembrance, and return.
🌳 Site Character
- Lifestyle 生活 (Seikatsu): ✔️
- Historical Significance 歴史 (Rekishi): ✔️
- Atmosphere/Natural Features 風土 (Fūdo): ✔️
👥 Who in their right mind would vote for this?
- Local (Shingon) Buddhists
- Grieving families
- Peace seekers
- Obon participants
- Festival photographers
📚 Further reading
Yogyokuin Nyoraiji Temple “Thousand Lantern Memorial Service – Shinagawa Tourism
🚶 While you’re there…
Get there early and have a look around the excellent Yogyokuin temple. Look through the cemetery gates at the distant Hirobumi Itō’s tomb or stroll around the leafy Nishi-Ōi residential neighbourhood for a breather.
