Praying with Pets: Ichibatasan Yakushiji's "Pet Happiness Prayer" in June & July

Ichibatasan Yakushiji (Okazaki City, Aichi Prefecture) regularly holds "Pet Happiness Prayer" events twice a month, allowing visitors to enter the hall and receive prayers alongside their pets. For the June and July 2026 sessions, popular Instagram dog Shiba Inu Kotetsu experienced the prayer, showcasing how humans and animals can pray together. In the Fudo Myoo Hall, prayers, readings of wishes, and purifications are performed for pets' health and happiness. Embracing the sentiment that "pets are family, so we want to pray together," the temple accommodates growing requests for pet health prayers. Kotetsu, with about 126,000 followers, visited the temple with his owner, and their peaceful experience is shared on Instagram. The upcoming dates are June 11, June 21, July 9, and July 19, 2026. Reception starts at 9:30 AM with prayers at 10:00 AM. The prayer fee begins at 1,500 yen, and advance reservations via phone (0564-48-7111) are required. The event takes place at the Okazaki Main Hall.