Hug the Demon! Daki-Jaki Experience at Ryukoku Museum

Before you go

A demon from the Heian period, and you can pick it up and hold it. The autumn special exhibition at the Ryukoku Museum centres on Buddhist statues from Fumon-ji, a Shingon mountain temple in Toyohashi, Aichi Prefecture, founded by the monk Gyoki in the Nara period; in 2027 the temple marks 1,300 years since its founding.

The demon you can hold comes from the "Fragment of a Guardian Deity Statue and Demon," made in the late Heian period. The experience takes place in Lecture Room 101 of the museum, and participants receive a Fumon-ji kirie goshuin of Fudo Myoo, the Wisdom King, cut from paper.

The exhibition traces 1,300 years of Fumon-ji in three chapters: its golden age, the age of warriors, and its revival. In the medieval period the temple held lands stretching from eastern Mikawa to Totomi, and through cycles of decline and revival it remained the focus of local faith.

Getting there

About 12 minutes on foot from Kyoto Station (JR, Kintetsu and Subway Karasuma lines); or take city bus routes 9, 28 or 75 to Nishi Honganji-mae and walk about 2 minutes.

Booking

Advance application is required via the form on the event page. Each session is limited to 20, first come. The fee is ¥500 including tax, and an exhibition ticket is also required; a used stub is accepted.