KYOTO - Grave visits are common during the summer Obon season, but the form of burial in Japan is undergoing significant change, with the trend of closing graves—known as “haka-jimai”—on the rise and new burial options emerging.
In Kyoto’s Higashiyama Ward, many came to pay respects at Otani Sobyo. Some visitors said the steep paths would be difficult to climb as they age, while others expressed concern about whether their children or grandchildren could maintain their graves in the long term.
Amid these worries, Kobe City is developing Japan’s first municipally designated “forest burial cemetery.” In forest burials, a type of tree burial, remains are interred beneath trees without gravestones, often alongside others in the same plot. This move reflects the rise in grave closures—Kobe recorded about 1,000 cases last year, and nationwide reburials, including grave closures, have doubled over the past decade to 167,000 in fiscal 2023. The city hopes to ease the burden on families by providing a resting place that requires no upkeep, with space for about 1,600 remains and opening planned for next summer.
Nature-return burials are also spreading in the private sector. At Nose Myokensan, which has over 1,200 years of history, a “cycle burial” held on August 14 saw powdered remains mixed with mountain soil and buried, with the process carried out by family members in turn. The temple began offering this in 2023, with about 30 people buried so far—roughly 80% through pre-death contracts. Participants said they were drawn to the idea of their remains nourishing the forest, and at FOREST Co. president Yuki Koike emphasized their vision of keeping the forest thriving for centuries without any markers.
The diversification of burial practices is tied to broader social shifts such as smaller families, fewer successors to graves, and more people living far from their hometowns. New methods include “balloon burials,” in which remains are placed in a large balloon and released into the stratosphere, scattering in the air when it bursts due to pressure changes. These cost about 300,000–400,000 yen, cheaper than building a new grave.
Services offering to visit graves on behalf of clients have also emerged, typically costing around 20,000 yen, covering cleaning, offerings, and even remote participation for those far away or with mobility issues.
However, grave closure can be complicated. The process requires notifying the managing temple or cemetery, submitting paperwork to local authorities, and hiring a contractor to remove the grave. Disputes sometimes arise, such as excessive “separation fees” to temples—while the norm is 50,000–200,000 yen, there are cases of demands as high as 3 million yen. Other conflicts occur when families proceed without informing relatives.
Experts advise using family gatherings, such as Obon, to discuss grave closures and future memorial arrangements openly, to avoid future misunderstandings.
Source: YOMIURI
