Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple in Kyoto will hold the Sento memorial service on Saturday and Sunday and light candles on thousands of gravestones of those who have no surviving relatives to pray for their souls.

The event will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Admission is ¥1,000 for junior high school students or older.

The temple can be accessed by taking Kyoto city bus 72 from Kyoto Station and getting off at Toriimoto. For details, check out www.nenbutsuji.jp/nenkan.html (in Japanese) or call 075-861-2221.

Annual Jizoe ceremony to be held in Nara

The annual Jizoe ceremony will be held at Gangoji Temple in Nara between 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday for visitors who want to pray for the repose of their ancestors, global peace, the prosperity of families and the health of their children.

Candles will be lit on dishes and in lanterns, and a tea ceremony and a concert will also be held. Admission is free. The temple is a 15-minute walk from Kintetsu Nara Station.

To find out more, visit www.gangoji.or.jp/tera/jap/gyouji/jizoue/jizoue.htm (in Japanese) or call 0742-23-1377.

Foreigners invited to medicinal plant event

The Kyoto City International Foundation will host a guided tour for foreigners at Takeda Garden for Medical Plant Conservation in Kyoto on Sept. 14.

Participants can enjoy looking at about 2,400 kinds of medicinal plants and at the same time learn something about them. Participation is free. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 075-752-3511.

The meeting commences at 12:15 p.m. at the Ichijoji Shimizucho bus stop, accessed by City Bus No. 5, and will end at 3 p.m. For more details, check www.kcif.or.jp/HP/jigyo/volunteer/jp/club/news/index.html (in English).

Twelve big lanterns to be lit at Aichi shrine

Twelve giant lanterns, each between 6 and 10 meters high, will be lit during a festival at Suwa Shrine in Nishio, Aichi Prefecture, on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The lanterns will be hung at 8 a.m. and illuminated at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, and taken down at 5 p.m. Wednesday. Sacred music and dancing will be offered to the god of the shrine on both days, and traditional archery will be performed from 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.

The shrine can be accessed by taking a Meitetsu Tobu Kotsu bus from Nishio Station on the Meitetsu Nishio Line and getting off at Mikawa Ishiki. More information is available at www.katch.ne.jp/~suwa-jinja/chiutin.html (in Japanese). The contact number is 0563-73-4276.

Nagoya to hold international exchange festival

An international exchange festival will take place in Minato Ward, Nagoya, on Aug. 30. The event, which will continue from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., will feature music and dance performances, a flea market and disaster prevention practice.

Participants can also enjoy various foods from around the world. Participation is free. The venue, Kyuban Danchi, is a 10-minute walk from Tokaidori Station on the Meiko subway line.

For further information, visit www.nic-nagoya.or.jp/en/e/archives/4270 (in English) or call 052-581-5689.