Openings
The days when images normally kept closed are opened. Listed in the order they open — those open now first, then the ones coming up — with the undated ones at the end.
Dates change. Always check the temple's own announcement before you travel.
Next openings14
Seated Thousand-armed Kannon
Fujii-dera, Fujiidera, Osaka
Opened on the 18th of each month, at the Kannon service.
Next 18 September 2026
Photographs wanted
Standing Fudō Myōō (Acala), the 'Mizuhiki Fudō'
Main hall, Chōju-ji (Kihara Fudōson), Kumamoto
Shown on the 28th of every month, the temple's fair day; otherwise kept in a closed shrine
Next 28 September 2026
Photographs wanted
Seated Amida Nyorai (Amitābha) of the five kalpas of meditation
Amida hall, Kanjinsho, Tōdai-ji, Nara
Opened only on 5 October. The Kanjinsho precinct is otherwise closed to visitors.
Next 5 October 2026
Seated Hachiman in the Guise of a Monk
Hachiman-den, Kanjinsho, Tōdai-ji, Nara
Opened only on 5 October, for the Tegai-e. The Kanjinsho precinct is otherwise closed to visitors.
Next 5 October 2026
Seated Fukūkenjaku Kannon (Amoghapāśa)
Nanen-dō, Kōfuku-ji, Nara
The inner sanctuary is open only on 17 October, for the Daihannya sutra reading (admission charged).
Next 17 October 2026
Photographs wanted
Standing Shaka Nyorai (Śākyamuni), Seiryō-ji type
Raidō, Tōshōdai-ji, Nara
Opened only from 21 to 23 October, for the Shaka Nenbutsu-e.
Next 21 October – 23 October 2026
No photograph available
Standing Guze Kannon
Yumedono, Hōryū-ji, Ikaruga, Nara
Special autumn opening.
Next 22 October – 23 November 2026
Photographs wanted
Relief portrait of Kōbō Daishi (Kūkai)
Daishi hall, Jingo-ji, Kyoto
Opened only from 1 to 15 November.
Next 1 November – 15 November 2026
Photographs wanted
Standing Yakushi Nyorai (Bhaiṣajyaguru)
Yakushi hall, Kōryū-ji, Kyoto
Opened only on 22 November.
Next 22 November 2026
Standing Shukongōjin
Hokke-dō, Tōdai-ji, Nara
Opened only on 16 December, the memorial day of the temple's founder.
Next 16 December 2026
Seated portrait of the priest Rōben
Kaisan-dō, Tōdai-ji, Nara
The Kaisan-dō is open only on 16 December, the anniversary of Rōben's death.
Next 16 December 2026
Seated Nyoirin Kannon (Cintāmaṇicakra)
Kondō, Kanshin-ji, Kawachinagano, Osaka
Opened only for two days, 17 and 18 April, each year.
Next 17 April – 18 April 2027
Seated portrait of the priest Ganjin
Miei-dō, Tōshōdai-ji, Nara
Opened in the Miei-dō for three days, 5–7 June, around the founder's memorial (Ganjin died on 6 June).
Next 5 June – 7 June 2027
Photographs wanted
Sixteen Arhats
Tentoku-ji, Akita
Shown every year on 17–18 August, when the temple's treasures are aired
Next 17 August – 18 August 2027
Openings with no fixed date13
Standing Mujaku (Asaṅga)
Hokuen-dō, Kōfuku-ji, Nara
The Hokuen-dō is opened only for set periods (about two weeks) in spring and autumn; the dates change from year to year.
The date of the next opening is not fixed
Standing Eleven-headed Kannon (Ekādaśamukha)
Hokke-ji, Nara
Normally closed. Opened for limited periods in spring and autumn; the dates change from year to year.
The date of the next opening is not fixed
Photographs wanted
Eleven-headed Kannon (Ekādaśamukha)
Rokuharamitsu-ji, Kyoto
Opened only once every twelve years, in the year of the dragon: last in 2024, next in 2036.
The date of the next opening is not fixed
Photographs wanted
Seated Nyoirin Kannon (Cintāmaṇicakra)
Main hall, Ishiyama-dera, Ōtsu, Shiga
Shown only once every thirty-three years, and in the year after an imperial accession. The doors are opened by an imperial envoy.
The date of the next opening is not fixed
Photographs wanted
Standing Bishamonten (Vaiśravaṇa), main hall
Main hall, Kurama-dera, Kyoto
Opened only once every sixty years, in the year of fire-tiger; last in 1986.
The date of the next opening is not fixed
Photographs wanted
Standing Yakushi Nyorai (Bhaiṣajyaguru)
Konpon-chūdō, Enryaku-ji, Ōtsu, Shiga
There is no fixed opening. It was opened once in 1988, for the 1,200th anniversary of the temple's founding.
The date of the next opening is not fixed
Photographs wanted
Seated Shaka Nyorai (Śākyamuni)
Main hall, Daihōon-ji, Kyoto
A hidden image; the days of opening are not published.
The date of the next opening is not fixed
No photograph available
Standing Senju Kannon (Sahasrabhuja), main hall
Main hall, Kiyomizu-dera, Kyoto
Opened once every 33 years. Since the late 20th century it has been shown in 2000 (the 33-year opening) and in 2008–2009 (a special opening marking the 1,000th memorial of Emperor Kazan).
The date of the next opening is not fixed
Photographs wanted
Seated Senju Kannon (Sahasrabhuja), inner sanctuary
Inner sanctuary, Kiyomizu-dera, Kyoto
A hidden image. It was shown in 2003 for the first time in 243 years, following its designation as an Important Cultural Property in 2002.
The date of the next opening is not fixed
Photographs wanted
Seated Aizen Myōō (Rāgarāja)
Aizen-dō, Saidai-ji, Nara
A hidden image. Opened each year around October and November.
The date of the next opening is not fixed
Photographs wanted
Standing Bishamonten (Vaiśravaṇa), main image
Chōgosonshi-ji, Heguri, Nara
The inner hidden image is shown three times a year, in January, February and July.
The date of the next opening is not fixed
Photographs wanted
Thousand-armed Kannon (Sahasrabhuja)
Nata-dera, Komatsu, Ishikawa
Shown once every 33 years; most recently 9 April – 31 October 2017, for the temple's 1300th anniversary
The date of the next opening is not fixed
Photographs wanted
Standing Eleven-headed Kannon (Ekādaśamukha)
Anyō-ji, Mimasaka, Okayama
Shown once every 33 years, according to the temple; the next date is not recorded
The date of the next opening is not fixed
Never opened4
No photograph available
Shō Kannon (Āryāvalokiteśvara)
Main hall, Sensō-ji, Taitō, Tokyo
An absolutely hidden image. It has not been opened since it was declared hidden in 645.
Never opened
No photograph available
Amida triad in a single mandorla (Ikkō Sanzon)
Main hall, Zenkō-ji, Nagano
An absolutely hidden image; not even the head priest is said to see it. What is shown at the opening every seven years is the substitute image that stands before it.
Never opened
No photograph available
Standing Eleven-headed Kannon (Ekādaśamukha), the Great Kannon
Nigatsu-dō, Tōdai-ji, Nara
An absolute hidden image. Even the priests who perform the Shunie rite are not permitted to see it.
Never opened
No photograph available
Standing Eleven-headed Kannon (Ekādaśamukha), the Small Kannon
Nigatsu-dō, Tōdai-ji, Nara
An absolute hidden image. Its shrine has no doors at all, so it cannot be opened.
Never opened