New Year at Tofukuji

New Year prayers under a dragon ceiling in Kyoto

By Cathy Cawood

Community writer

I couldn't help noticing the curious slippers!

You can see wear and tear on the wooden soles of the sandals

Notice

Jorakuan Guest Hall (Fumon-in) and Tojiryo (Shoin), next to Kaisando Hall, are undergoing preservation/repair work until October 2025.

Latest on Tofukuji Temple

I was passing Tofukuji in Kyoto on the second day of 2014, and decided to take a few photos there. A number of people were crowded around the open temple doors, so naturally I went to see why. A prayer service was in progress with robed monks kneeling under a high ceiling painted with a dragon. Behind each monk sat a curious pair of slippers with turned-up toes in bright colors. When the service was over, the prayerful monks dispersed in many different directions.