At the night of Koshin (庚申）, traditional Japanese conduct a special ritual.  The 22nd of February, Koshin festivals will be held at Koshin – do (庚申堂） in both Asama Hot Spring and Azusagawa Ueno district.

←(photo taken by Fujinoyu)

Koshin　(庚申） is a name of a day which comes to 57th of the sexagenary cycle of Japanese lunar calendar (traditional calendar with Chinese zodiac signs).   According to Taoisｍ, the night of “Koshin”, the “three worms （三尸・さんし）” the spiritual figures which believed to live in our body will come out from the human while the owner of the body is sleeping,  and these three bugs will go to heaven to make a report on humans ill deeds to Tentei (天帝）, the god.   The heavenly god will make a judgement  for each people’s life span after hearing from these three worms reportｓ.  　In order to prevent from “three worms’ declaration to god”,  Japanese folks had made a ritual to stay awake on the night on Koshin.   That was a beginning of Koshin Festival.   In “Makurano soshi (枕草子）” (very early essay book written by a noble lady in A.D. 996), there are some descriptions about the night of Koshin,  therefore this festival has been held for more than a thousand years by Japanese folks.

↑ image of three worms                        ↑　Symbol of Koshin with three monkeys

↑ Shinkoji Temple in Azusagawa Ueno, the western foothill region of Matsumoto

To find the temple, just follow the red flags.  The color red is a symbol of Koshin so as monkeys.

← Three monkeys in Shinkoji temple

At Hot Plaza Asama (communal onsen) ,  there will be a welcome service hosted by local ladies.

Inside of the temple, monks are reciting sutras all night long, locals are selling lucky Daruma figures.

Asama Hot Spring ← click to open the map

Shinkoji Temple ←　Map

Hope you have a chance to eyewitness this ancient ritual here in Matsumoto.