Fixing the monthly festival day of Yakushi-ji Temple on the eighth day every month, Yakushi-ji Temple holds Dai-hannyakyo Sutra Tendoku Hoyo (a memorial service reading part of the "Dai-hannyakyo Sutra" to followers) on January 8 as the day of Hatsu Yakushi Ennichi (the first monthly festival of the year).
薬師寺では毎月8日を薬師如来の縁日と定め、1月8日は初薬師縁日として大般若経転読の法要を行なう。