11月23日、今日はお昼ごろに東山区の六波羅蜜寺へ行ってきました。六波羅蜜寺では毎年この日に「お茶漬け供養」が行われ、11時からの皇服茶奉納式のあと、先着100名にお茶漬けが振る舞われるんですね。皇服茶（おうぶくちゃ）というのは、毎年1月1日〜3日に参詣者へ振る舞われる新年のお祝いのお茶で、1年の無病息災を願うものです。ということで、散歩も兼ねてのんびり出かけてみました。

12時ごろに振る舞われると聞いて、ちょうどその時間に合わせて行ったのですが、境内にはすでに行列が…。「これはさすがに無理かな」と思っていたところ、係の方が「こちらでお茶漬けが振る舞われていますよ」と声をかけてくださり、整理券を無事ゲット。番号は68番でした。先着100名なので、ちょっとでも遅れていたらアウトでしたね。

その後、24人ずつ案内され、テーブルに着いてお茶漬けをいただきました。これがまた、ただのお茶漬けではありません。お茶は福寿園さんのお茶、漬物は京つけもの西利さん。どちらも奉賛として関わっているそうで、そりゃ美味しいわけです。

体も心も温まったところで、関係者の方に少し話を伺うと、この「お茶漬け供養」は5〜6年前から始まった行事とのこと。最後に「来年もやりますよ！」とおっしゃっていました。

食後は秋の京都をのんびり散策し、そのまま帰路へ。来年もまた行こうかな、と思える良いひとときでした。それにしてもお茶漬け美味しかったなぁ。


A Warm Autumn Day at Rokuharamitsu-ji: Visiting the “Ochazuke Memorial Service”

On November 23rd, I headed to Rokuharamitsu-ji Temple in Kyoto’s Higashiyama Ward around noon. Every year on this day, the temple holds an event called the Ochazuke Memorial Service. After the “Ōbuku-cha Offering Ceremony,” which starts at 11 a.m., the first 100 visitors are served a bowl of ochazuke.

Ōbuku-cha is a special tea traditionally given to worshippers from January 1st to 3rd as a New Year’s blessing, meant to bring good health throughout the year. Since it was a pleasant autumn day, I decided to stroll over and join the event.

I had heard that the ochazuke would be served around noon, so I arrived just in time—only to find a long line already forming in the courtyard. I thought, “Well, this might be impossible,” but then a staff member called out, “We’re handing out the ochazuke over here!” Thanks to that, I managed to get a ticket. My number was 68—out of the first 100—so even a slight delay and I would have missed it entirely.

Guests were guided inside in groups of 24, and soon I was seated at a table with a warm bowl of ochazuke in front of me. And this wasn’t just any ordinary ochazuke. The tea was from Fukujuen, a renowned Kyoto tea company, and the pickles were from Nishiri, a famous Kyoto tsukemono brand. Both companies support the event, and the quality really showed—it was delicious.

Feeling both physically and emotionally warmed, I chatted briefly with one of the staff members. They told me that this Ochazuke Memorial Service began about five or six years ago. Before I left, they added with a smile, “We’ll be doing it again next year!”

After finishing my meal, I enjoyed a leisurely walk through autumn-colored Kyoto before heading home. It was such a pleasant experience that I’m already thinking about going again next year. And honestly… that ochazuke was just so good.