Approximately 600 years ago, Buddhist nuns referred to as 'Bikuni' travelled the countryside carrying pictures of the “Mandala” both to collect donations needed to cover the expenses of repairing the Kumano Sanzan shrines, and attracting more worshipers to the Kumano area. It is said that these nuns talked about the cycle of birth and death, and of the relief after death, using pictorial drawings depicting heaven and hell together with the four other dimensions that exist between. These days, the storyteller recreates the authentic feeling of the Kumano Mandala Pictorial Guide by dressing in the costume of a Bikuni. In addition to the regular sessions at the Kawaraya Yokocho Store Alley, they also provide on-site services, which need to be booked in advance.
Place : Kawaraya Yokocho Store Alley (Funamachi 1-2-1, Shingu) [GoogleMap]
Date : Every Sundays and public holidays
Time : 10:30-12:00
Fare : Free
Type of Drawings : Shingu Sankei Mandara-zu
Hosting : Shingu City Tourist Association
Performers : Shingu City Tour Guide Association
Time required : 5-10 minutes
Shingu Sankei Mandara-zu
Inquiries for Kawaraya Pictorial Guide should be directed to:
Shingu City Tourist Association TEL：0735-22-2840/FAX:0735-22-2842
Place : Designated place
Date : Designated day
Time : Designated time
Fare : 2 Drawings - 5000 yen 4 Drawings - 8000 yen
Type of Drawings : Shingu Sankei Mandara-zu, Nachi Sankei Mandara-zu, Hongu Sankei Mandara-zu, The 10 Depths of Hell and Cycle of Life
Hosting : Shingu City Tour Guide Association
Performers : Shingu City Tour Guide Association
Time required : 2 Drawings : 20 minutes 4 Drawings : 40 minutes
*Date, time and place can be chosen and reserved as per your request.
Reservation and inquiries for Delivery Pictorial Guide ;
Shingu City Tourist Association TEL ： 0735-22-2840
The Kumano Bikuni were a group of nuns who played an important in spreading the Kumano faith throughout Japan between the 16th and 18th centuries. They walked around the country with the Mandala of the Ten Spiritual Realms and pictures of the Nachi Pilgrimage Mandala. Using these pictures, they preached to many people about the Buddhist world and the concepts surrounding the Kumano faith.
Place : Designated place
Date : Designated day
Time : Designated time
Fare : 10,000 yen
Time required : Mandala of the Ten Spiritual Realms and the Nachi Pilgrimage will take approximately 30 minutes
Reservation and inquiries for the Pictorial Guide in English
