墓参(はかまい)り

はかまいり
noun
visiting a grave
religionfamilyculture
1. visiting a grave, paying respects at a grave
The practice of visiting the grave of a deceased family member or friend to clean the grave, offer flowers and incense, and pray.
墓参(はかまい)りに行(い)く。
To go visit a grave.
祖父(そふ)の墓参(はかまい)りをした。
I visited my grandfather's grave.
お盆(ぼん)には家族(かぞく)で墓参(はかまい)りに行(い)くのが恒例(こうれい)になっている。
It's our family tradition to visit the grave together during Obon.

Usage

Also used with する: 墓参(はかまい)りする / 墓参(はかまい)りをする. The polite form お墓参(はかまい)り is also common.

Cultural note

Grave visits are an important part of Japanese family life. The main occasions are:

During 墓参(はかまい)り, people typically clean the gravestone, offer 線香(せんこう) (incense), 花(はな) (flowers), and 水(みず) (water), and pray.

Common collocations

  • 墓参(はかまい)りに行(い)く (to go visit a grave)
  • お墓参(はかまい)り (polite form)
general
Added 2026.2.9 0:14 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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