Is there a suitable time and timing for visiting the grave?

Visiting a grave that naturally blends into the lives of Japanese people as "respect for ancestors" and "important traditional events."

Just as each country has its own history and culture, there are many events in Japan as well. It can be said that one of such events is visiting a grave. Many Japanese people who enjoy Halloween and Christmas naturally think, "Yes, I have to visit the grave" as if they were incorporated into my life at Obon, New Year, and equinoctial week.

Speaking of visiting graves, the basics are equinoctial week and Obon. So do we have to keep these dates? Is it an NG act to visit a grave on a day other than a fixed day? Or do you have to worry about the date and time?

There is a good time and timing to visit the grave. Let's deepen our knowledge about "visiting a grave", which is a part of Japanese life.

When should I not visit the grave?

Basically, you can visit the grave at any time. It seems that many people who keep graves such as monks feel that it is preferable to see the Dan family cleaning the graves frequently and holding their hands together.

Many of the graveyards, which are public places, are open for 24 hours, so you can visit them at your convenience and when you want to visit the graveyard. The important thing when visiting a grave is the heart. The feeling of "Yes, let's go to the grave and join hands" is very important. It cannot be an NG act to visit a grave when that feeling suddenly springs up. It's not like "I thought it was a good day," but it's okay to visit the grave when you feel like it.

Considering that the grave is the place where the ancestors sleep, the deceased ancestors may also like the descendants who came together to think that they came often. Somehow, when I go home in the summer or winter, I can see a picture that grandpa and grandma prepare a treat and welcome.

However, this is just the basics. The reality is not that "you can always visit the grave". If you think about it, you should visit the grave, but there are times when you shouldn't visit the grave. There are two main cases where visiting a grave is NG.

At night and when Omagatoki

Omagatoki is a time between day and night. In the evening, when it's getting dim and the face of the person walking in front of me is too dark to see well, this demon sometimes hits. Also called twilight.

When Omagato reads it, it is literally "when he meets Omagato". It is said to be the time to meet disasters and demons. Certainly, if it gets dim and you can't see the face of the person in front of you, you may be scared. It is said that Omagatoki is the time when Chimimōryō is slaughtered, so you should avoid visiting the grave. For those who say, "I'm not afraid of ghosts!", Let's follow the traditional Japanese customs and ways of thinking.

The night is a dangerous time to visit the grave. Those who say, "I'm not afraid of ghosts," are different. It's not a ghost story issue. Many graves are not supposed to visit the graves at night, so the maintenance of street lights etc. is not very advanced. It's not that there are no street lights at all, but it's less than in the city blocks, and you'll feel your feet uncertain. To avoid injury, we recommend avoiding visiting graves at night when there are few street lights.

When the graveyard is closed

Please refrain from visiting the graveyard even when the graveyard is closed.
For example, the time when the temple that manages the grave is closing the section where the graveyard is located. And the time when the section open to worshipers inside the temple is closed. The temple that manages the grave is also convenient, so it is a problem to ask "I want to visit the grave, so please open it" at 1 o'clock in the middle of the night. If the temple that manages the graveyard has a condition that "please visit the grave between 0:00 and 0:00", make sure to match that time.

Also, in some areas, the area where the graveyard is located may be closed during certain seasons. One example is a deep snowy area. The tomb is located deep in the mountains and may be closed in winter due to dangerous roads and lack of snow removal. It seems that there are places where it is closed due to danger due to landslides. Even if you want to visit a grave, avoid it if you are at risk. Even your ancestors should say, "It's dangerous to come to the grave now, so join hands at the Buddhist altar."

What is the best time and timing to visit the grave?

Except for times when it is not suitable for visiting the grave, you can basically visit the grave at any time after that. Please be aware that the grave is a place where your ancestors sleep and a public place, and follow the etiquette when visiting.

Basically, it is always OK if you pay attention to the above cases, but there is something called "when and when many people visit the grave". If you are asking "what time should I go for the time being?", Please try the following grave visiting season.

A turning point in life

We will report to your ancestors at milestones in your life, such as finding a job, going on to school, getting married, or giving birth. From ancient times, many houses visited graves at the turning point of their lives. This is because the grave served as a symbol of "house," "family," and "clan." Even now, it is common for the whole family to go to the grave together at a turning point in the life of someone in the family.

Anniversary

Many people visit the grave on the anniversary of their family's death. In memory of the family who just died, we sometimes visit the grave on the anniversary of the anniversary of the death or the anniversary of the death of the month to pray for souls.

Obon, New Year holidays, equinoctial week

The equinoctial week, the Obon festival, and the end of the year, which are often combined with the "Bongure equinoctial week". Isn't it the most common grave visiting season in Japan? Since the beginning of the year is a new start, many people come to the grave where their ancestors sleep.

The year-end and New Year holidays are a busy season with overlapping events. 29, 30, 31 ... You can visit the grave on any date according to your personal convenience. However, on the 29th, there is a tendency to avoid visiting the grave due to the pun that "bitter (9) stains become double (2)".

Finally

You can visit the grave at the timing you want to live. However, there are two cases where you want to refrain from visiting the grave, and depending on the time of day and location, you may want to refrain from visiting the grave at your own discretion, considering that it is a "public place".

The most common times and timings for visiting a grave are Bon Festival, equinoctial week, year-end and New Year holidays, milestones in life, anniversary of death, and anniversary of death. In addition, there are also people who visit the grave at the deceased's anniversary. If you are worried about the timing of visiting the grave, it is a good idea to visit on these dates.