When does hatsumode at Kawasaki Daishi start in 2027?

By long-standing practice, right after the New Year's Eve bell, at 0:00 on 1 January, the chief priest leads the Gancho Ogomaku, the first goma fire rite of the year, in the main hall, and that is the start of New Year worship. The temple's 'January events' page gave 0:00 on 1 January for 2024, 2025 and 2026; the 2027 edition was not yet posted on 2026-10-11, so confirm on the official site (https://www.kawasakidaishi.com/event/jan/). New Year observances continue after the first three days: Hatsu-Yakushi on 8 January, Hatsu-Daishi on 20-21 January, and Hatsu-Fudo on 28 January. Goma tablets prayed over on 20-21 January carry a special red inscription.

What are the main hall hours over New Year?

As of 2026-10-11 the temple has not published its 2027 New Year hours. The official site lists only the ordinary-season hours (1 February to 30 December): 6:00-17:30 from October to March. Hours for 31 December to 31 January are not posted, so check the news section of the official site (https://www.kawasakidaishi.com/) before you go. Telephone enquiries are taken 9:00-16:00 (+81-44-266-3420).

Are the roads closed during the first three days? Can I drive?

In recent years a wide area around the temple grounds and Daishi Park has been closed to vehicles from 22:00 on 31 December until about 19:00 on 1 January, and from 10:00 to about 19:00 on 2 and 3 January (notice issued jointly by Kanagawa Prefectural Police HQ, Kawasaki Police Station, Kawasaki Rinko Police Station and the Kawasaki Daishi Tourism Association; the 2025 and 2026 PDFs on the official site gave the same hours). The approach street from Kawasaki-daishi Station and the shopping streets from Higashi-monzen Station become pedestrian-only, with extra restrictions at busy times until mid-January (18 January last time). Confirm the 2027 map on the official site. The regulation map (jointly signed by the police and the tourism association) asks visitors to come by train or bus.

Is there parking, and is there an admission fee?

Entry to the grounds is free. Parking is not beside the main hall but adjoins the Traffic Safety Prayer Hall at 1-1-1 Daishigawara, with space for 700 cars and 40 coaches, free of charge, normally 8:00-17:00 (official 'Access' page). At set hours over the first three days the surrounding roads are closed and the prayer hall car park exit is left-turn only (2026 'left-turn exit' PDF); the regulation map (jointly signed by the police and the tourism association) asks visitors to use trains and buses. If you take part in a goma prayer for warding off misfortune, the offering starts at 5,000 yen (official 'Goma prayer' page).

Kawasaki Daishi Hatsumode 2027: 0:00 Goma Rite, Road Closures, Access

Highlights

In recent years, 0:00 on 1 January: the chief priest leads the Gancho Ogomaku fire rite in the main hall as the New Year's Eve bell sounds
Official New Year's Eve sequence: 15:30 Kechigan Ogomaku, then the Joya bell at the bell tower
The approach street from Kawasaki-daishi Station and the shopping streets become pedestrian-only over the first three days (recent years)
Goma prayers for warding off misfortune need no booking; offerings from 5,000 yen. Hatsu-Daishi tablets (20-21 Jan) get a red inscription
2027 is the 900th anniversary of the founding; anniversary festival 1-10 May 2027

Background & story

Founded in 1128 when Hirama Kanenori, a fisherman exiled from Owari on a false charge, followed a dream in his unlucky 42nd year, pulled a statue of Kobo Daishi from the sea and built a temple with the priest Sonken of Mount Koya. Named Heikenji after his surname, it became known nationwide as the temple that wards off misfortune and is a head temple of the Chisan school of Shingon Buddhism. The Gancho Ogomaku at 0:00 on 1 January is the first goma of the year, offered by the chief priest to the principal image as the New Year's Eve bell is struck; 2027 is the 900th-anniversary year.

As in recent years, Hatsumode 2027 at Kawasaki Daishi (Heikenji, 4-48 Daishimachi, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa) is expected to begin at 0:00 on 1 January with the Gancho Ogomaku, the first goma fire rite of the year, straight after the New Year's Eve bell (the official listings for 2024, 2025 and 2026 all gave 0:00). Entry to the grounds is free. The temple is an 8-minute walk from Kawasaki-daishi Station on the Keikyu Daishi Line, and because the surrounding roads are closed to cars at set hours over the first three days of the year, train or bus is the way in. 2027 is also the temple's 900th anniversary year. The 2027 time had not been posted as of 2026-10-11, so this page draws on the official information published by that date and on previous years' official listings.

At a glance

Item	Detail
Rite	Gancho Ogomaku (1 January, 0:00 in recent years, main hall, led by the chief priest)
Period	1-3 January 2027 (the first three days); Hatsu-Daishi on 20-21 January
Venue	Kawasaki Daishi Heikenji, main hall (4-48 Daishimachi, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki 210-8521)
Cost	Free to enter; goma prayer offerings from 5,000 yen
Hours	Ordinary season (1 Feb-30 Dec) Oct-Mar 6:00-17:30. 31 Dec-31 Jan hours not yet posted - check the official site
Access	8 min walk from Kawasaki-daishi Station (Keikyu Daishi Line) / Rinko Bus Kawa-23 from JR Kawasaki Station east exit stop 7 to Daishi, then 8 min walk
Road closures (recent years)	31 Dec 22:00 - 1 Jan ~19:00, and 2-3 Jan 10:00 - ~19:00 (joint police / tourism association notice)
Parking	Beside the Traffic Safety Prayer Hall, free, 700 cars; restricted over the first three days

Note: the period shown on this page (1-3 January) is a guide based on the first three days of the year; it is not a period announced by the temple.

From New Year's Eve into New Year's Day - the official sequence

Taken from the temple's December and January event pages:

31 December, 15:30 - Kechigan Ogomaku (main hall). The last goma rite of the year, after which the monks walk the halls of the precinct offering prayers.
31 December - Joya Horaku (bell tower). After the prayer, the New Year's Eve bell is struck to dispel the 108 worldly desires.
1 January, 0:00 - Gancho Ogomaku (main hall). As the bell sounds, the chief priest enters the hall with the whole monastic community and personally performs the first goma before the principal image, Yakuyoke Kobo Daishi, praying for the peace of the nation and the wishes of the faithful.
8 January - Hatsu-Yakushi (Yakushi Hall). The first fair day of Yakushi Nyorai; after the morning goma, a Great Wisdom Sutra blessing is given to worshippers.
Coming-of-Age Day - safety prayers for new adults, with a special amulet.
20-21 January - Hatsu-Daishi. The 21st is the year's first fair day of Kobo Daishi; tablets prayed over on these two days receive the red "Hatsu-Daishi" inscription.
28 January, 15:00 - Hatsu-Fudo (Fudo Hall). The first fair day of Fudo Myo-o, with a great goma rite.

On 2026-10-11 the official January page still showed the 2026 edition, so weekdays for 2027 are not yet listed. The official listings for 2024, 2025 and 2026 all gave 0:00 for the Gancho Ogomaku; check the 2027 time once the new page is posted.

Main hall hours and goma prayers - New Year hours not yet posted

The ordinary-season hours published by the temple (1 February to 30 December) are 5:30-18:00 from April to September and 6:00-17:30 from October to March (5:30-17:30 on the 21st in those months); the hall stays open until 21:00 on the 20th of every month. Only these ordinary-season hours are published; hours for 31 December to 31 January were not posted as of 2026-10-11, so check the official news section before you go.

Goma prayers for warding off misfortune need no reservation: apply at the goma reception to the right of the main hall. Offerings are 5,000, 7,000 or 10,000 yen for a standard goma, 20,000 yen for a great goma and 30,000 yen or more for a special great goma (official "Goma prayer" page). The ordinary-season prayer timetable is also published, but the temple notes that times may change for events, so over New Year follow the signs on the day.

Road closures over the first three days - the usual pattern

A traffic map signed jointly by Kanagawa Prefectural Police HQ, Kawasaki Police Station, Kawasaki Rinko Police Station and the Kawasaki Daishi Tourism Association is posted on the temple's website. The January 2026 PDF (checked 2026-10-11) said:

When (2026 map)	What
31 Dec 22:00 - 1 Jan about 19:00	Vehicles banned over a wide area around the grounds and Daishi Park
2 and 3 Jan, 10:00 - about 19:00	Same
31 Dec 23:00 - 1 Jan 5:00	A designated stretch becomes a taxi rank
Until 18 Jan (19 Jan in the 2025 map)	Temporary pedestrian-only restrictions at busy times

The January 2025 PDF gave the same hours (31 Dec 22:00 - 1 Jan about 19:00; 2-3 Jan 10:00 - about 19:00). In 2026 the approach street from Kawasaki-daishi Station and the shopping streets from Higashi-monzen Station were pedestrian-only (Travel Watch report). While the closure is in force the Traffic Safety Prayer Hall car park exit is left-turn only, and drivers heading for Kawasaki Station are asked to detour by turning right at the Daishigawara junction onto Sangyo Road (2026 "left-turn exit" PDF). Check the 2027 map on the official site in December. The notice ends with a request to use trains and buses.

Getting there - plan on train or bus

Keikyu: change at Keikyu Kawasaki to the Daishi Line; 8 minutes on foot from Kawasaki-daishi Station. The Keikyu Main Line serves Shinagawa and Yokohama, and from Haneda Airport an Airport Express towards Yokohama is convenient (official "Access" page).
Bus: Kawasaki Tsurumi Rinko Bus route Kawa-23 for Daishi from stop 7 at the east exit of JR Kawasaki Station; 8 minutes on foot from the Daishi stop.
Last year's holiday timetable (2025-26, Keikyu release of 28 November 2025): weekend timetables from 30 December to 4 January; no all-night trains on New Year's Eve; extra Daishi Line trains on 1-6 and 10-12 January for temple visitors. Rinko Bus ran a direct Kawasaki Station - Kawasaki Daishi service on 1-3 January, the first in six years (from Kawasaki Station 9:42-11:57 every 15 minutes; from Daishi 10:00-16:55 every 12-15 minutes). The 2026-27 plan, including whether the direct bus runs again, had not been announced as of 2026-10-11 (last year's came on 28 November 2025); check Keikyu's holiday notice.
Car: the Daishi exits of the Shuto Expressway Yokohane and Kawasaki lines are closest, but the closures above apply over the first three days and the car park (beside the prayer hall, free, 700 cars, normally 8:00-17:00) is affected too.

2027: the 900th anniversary

The founding story (Hirama Kanenori and the year 1128) is told in the "Background & story" section. The principal image is Yakuyoke Kobo Daishi. 2027 marks 900 years since the founding, and a 900th-anniversary festival is scheduled for 1-10 May 2027 (official site news). The temple is also recruiting New Year calligraphy staff for the temple office for 2027 (applications must arrive by 6 November 2026). For history, year-round events and parking details see the Kawasaki Daishi complete guide.

Languages and related pages

The official site has English, Chinese and Korean pages.
Spending New Year's Eve in Tokyo? See the Tokyo countdown guide; for another famous first visit see Meiji Jingu hatsumode. How hatsumode itself works is covered on our sister site MICHI: Hatsumode guide 2027.

Checked on, and sources

Compiled on 2026-10-11 from the Kawasaki Daishi Heikenji official site - January events, December events, Access, Goma prayer and the English page - the New Year traffic regulation maps posted on the official site (joint police / tourism association PDFs: 2026, 2025) and the prayer hall left-turn exit notice, Keikyu's year-end and New Year service release of 28 November 2025, Kanko Kanagawa NOW (Kanagawa Prefecture Tourism Association) and a Travel Watch report (24 December 2025). New Year hours, the 2027 traffic map and holiday timetables should be confirmed on the official sites once published.

Update log: published 2026-10-11. Reflects the 0:00 Gancho Ogomaku, ordinary-season hours, the usual road closures, last year's holiday timetables and the 900th-anniversary festival (1-10 May 2027).

Good to know for visitors

Getting there: Change at Keikyu Kawasaki to the Keikyu Daishi Line; 8 min walk from Kawasaki-daishi Station. Or Rinko Bus Kawa-23 from JR Kawasaki Station east exit stop 7 to Daishi, then 8 min walk. From Haneda Airport, Keikyu Airport Express towards Yokohama. Roads around the temple are closed to cars 31 Dec 22:00 - 1 Jan ~19:00 and 2-3 Jan 10:00 - ~19:00 in recent years, so use public transport.　Open directions in Google Maps ↗
Booking & entry: Free to attend — details on the official page (button above).
Language: The official site has English, Chinese and Korean pages (https://www.kawasakidaishi.com/english/ and others).
Good for: culture seekers, families

Good to know

The official site lists main hall hours only for the ordinary season (1 Feb-30 Dec); hours for 31 Dec-31 Jan were not posted as of 2026-10-11, and the temple notes goma times may change for events: check the official site before you go. The Kanagawa tourism association's year-round listing (not specific to New Year) recommends the less crowded mornings. For last season's Keikyu holiday timetable and the Rinko direct bus, see the FAQ below ('How do I get there by train or bus, and what about holiday services?'). The free car park (700 cars, beside the Traffic Safety Prayer Hall) is affected by the closures, and while they are in force the exit is left-turn only. 31 Dec 23:00 - 1 Jan 5:00 a designated stretch becomes a taxi rank (last map). The tourism association's listing says no pets inside the halls and an accessible toilet is available; confirm on the official site (https://www.kawasakidaishi.com/access/). Visitor numbers are not published by the temple, so none are given.

Frequently asked questions

When does hatsumode at Kawasaki Daishi start in 2027?: By long-standing practice, right after the New Year's Eve bell, at 0:00 on 1 January, the chief priest leads the Gancho Ogomaku, the first goma fire rite of the year, in the main hall, and that is the start of New Year worship. The temple's 'January events' page gave 0:00 on 1 January for 2024, 2025 and 2026; the 2027 edition was not yet posted on 2026-10-11, so confirm on the official site (https://www.kawasakidaishi.com/event/jan/). New Year observances continue after the first three days: Hatsu-Yakushi on 8 January, Hatsu-Daishi on 20-21 January, and Hatsu-Fudo on 28 January. Goma tablets prayed over on 20-21 January carry a special red inscription.
What are the main hall hours over New Year?: As of 2026-10-11 the temple has not published its 2027 New Year hours. The official site lists only the ordinary-season hours (1 February to 30 December): 6:00-17:30 from October to March. Hours for 31 December to 31 January are not posted, so check the news section of the official site (https://www.kawasakidaishi.com/) before you go. Telephone enquiries are taken 9:00-16:00 (+81-44-266-3420).
Are the roads closed during the first three days? Can I drive?: In recent years a wide area around the temple grounds and Daishi Park has been closed to vehicles from 22:00 on 31 December until about 19:00 on 1 January, and from 10:00 to about 19:00 on 2 and 3 January (notice issued jointly by Kanagawa Prefectural Police HQ, Kawasaki Police Station, Kawasaki Rinko Police Station and the Kawasaki Daishi Tourism Association; the 2025 and 2026 PDFs on the official site gave the same hours). The approach street from Kawasaki-daishi Station and the shopping streets from Higashi-monzen Station become pedestrian-only, with extra restrictions at busy times until mid-January (18 January last time). Confirm the 2027 map on the official site. The regulation map (jointly signed by the police and the tourism association) asks visitors to come by train or bus.
How do I get there by train or bus, and what about holiday services?: Change at Keikyu Kawasaki to the Keikyu Daishi Line; the temple is an 8-minute walk from Kawasaki-daishi Station. From Haneda Airport take a Keikyu Airport Express towards Yokohama; from Shinagawa or Yokohama use the Keikyu Main Line. By bus, take Kawasaki Tsurumi Rinko Bus route Kawa-23 for Daishi from stop 7 at the east exit of JR Kawasaki Station and walk 8 minutes from the Daishi stop. Keikyu's official release for the 2025-26 holidays said: extra Daishi Line trains on 1-6 and 10-12 January, no all-night service on New Year's Eve, and weekend timetables from 30 December to 4 January. Rinko Bus ran a direct Kawasaki Station - Kawasaki Daishi service on 1-3 January for the first time in six years (from Kawasaki Station 9:42-11:57 every 15 minutes; from Daishi 10:00-16:55 every 12-15 minutes). The 2026-27 plan, including the direct bus, had not been announced as of 2026-10-11 (last year's came on 28 November 2025); check Keikyu's holiday notice.
Is there parking, and is there an admission fee?: Entry to the grounds is free. Parking is not beside the main hall but adjoins the Traffic Safety Prayer Hall at 1-1-1 Daishigawara, with space for 700 cars and 40 coaches, free of charge, normally 8:00-17:00 (official 'Access' page). At set hours over the first three days the surrounding roads are closed and the prayer hall car park exit is left-turn only (2026 'left-turn exit' PDF); the regulation map (jointly signed by the police and the tourism association) asks visitors to use trains and buses. If you take part in a goma prayer for warding off misfortune, the offering starts at 5,000 yen (official 'Goma prayer' page).

Getting there

Kawasaki Daishi Heikenji Temple (main hall) — 4-48 Daishimachi, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 210-8521