Firewalking ritual at Saikoku-ji Temple, Onomichi
Goma Ritual burning of cedar sticks followed by fire walking. Members of the public set themselves up for a fortuitous
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new year
Chinkasai Fire Festival
With most people living in the wooden houses, closely clustered together along narrow streets for centuries, fear of calamitous fires is
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New Year at Gokoku Shrine
December 31 From 17:00 Ooharae-shiki (purification ceremony) & Joya-sai (seeing out the old year festival) From just after 11pm the
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Dezomeshiki Firefighters Expo
Watch the firefighters display their skill, see their fire engines and helicopters in action.
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Tondo Matsuri
Ever wonder what everyone does with all those New Year arrows, rakes, daruma and that they buy at shrines every
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Nanakusa-no-sekku
Nanakusa-no-sekku [七草の節句] or the “the feast of seven herbs” is a day on which people in Japan customarily eat a
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Snowy Tondo Festival at Gokoku Shrine
Gokoku Shrine’s annual tondo bonfire festival coincided with the biggest snowfall to hit the city in a generation.
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Sorasaya Shrine Tondo Festival
This tondo festival in Honkawa is a nice mix of shrine rite and neighborhood event.
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New Year rituals at Itsukushima Shrine
Jan 1 Shin-i Kenjo-shiki Ceremony (offering new clothes to deities) from midnight Saitan-sai Festival Ceremony Bugaku traditional dance performance starts
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All you Need to Know About Miyajima at New Year
A few tidbits of info that we hope will make your New Year jaunt to Miyajima a memorable one.
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2016 winter holiday movies
Rediscover the magic of the cinema this holiday season.
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Bihoku Hillside Park Winter Illuminations
With a total of around 700,000 colorful LEDs lighting up the natural setting of the expansive Bihoku Hillside Park in
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New Year’s Trains and Ferries to Miyajima
Thousands of people visit Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima during the New Year holiday, and many don’t waste any time and
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New Year In Hiroshima
New Year is undoubtedly Japan’s most important – and longest – festival. However, in most of the country, you’ll disappointed
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New Year Kagura
Two days of kagura dance performances by 6 local troupes. Doors open at 11:00 Performances start at 12:00
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Miyajima Tondo Festival
The mound of New Year decorations and previous year’s good luck amulets to be set aflame at Miyajima’s seaside Tondo
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Momote-sai Festival
The ritual firing of the first arrow of the year takes place at Ōmoto Shrine on Miyajima every year on
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Photos: Tondo Matsuri at Waseda-jinja
Just got back from tondo matsuri at our local shrine. It’s quite a local affair, and the old guys let
Read morePhotos: Dezome-shiki New Year Firefighter’s Parade
It was a chilly morning, but the snow had melted by the time we got to Chuo-koen and we captured
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Dezome-shiki New Year Firefighter’s Parade
Firefighter parades are held all over Japan at the beginning of January. The purpose is to pray for a fire
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Ikari-jina lit on New Year holiday night
I passed by Ikari-jinja in Hakushima last night and took some shots of the lanterns and the peaceful precinct of
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Chinkasai Fire Festival
Miyajima’s chinkasai is an impressive fire appeasing festival held on New Year’s Eve. From midnight on December 31st, through the
Read moreFamily Friendly Events in January
Most of Japan shuts down over the New Year holiday as festivities are traditionally focused on families gathering together to
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Hiroshima Dreamination
Kiddie and couples’ delight or a triumph of tack over taste? Join the crowds and you be the judge.
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