Photographed on January 31, 2014. These are the floral water displays at Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine.

Ariakeyama Shrine sits on the foothills of the Northern Alps, venerating Mt. Ariake as its sacred mountain and serving as a village shrine rooted in mountain worship. It is also famous as a power spot. The Yumeimon Gate, adorned with carvings of the twelve zodiac animals, is splendid and designated as a tangible cultural property.

Photographed on January 31, 2014. This is the hanachozu (flower water basin) at Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine.

Yasaka Shrine Setsubun Festival 2026 625 Gionmachi Kitagawa, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture The highlight of the Yasaka Shrine Setsubun Festival is the dance offerings and bean-throwing performed by geiko and maiko from the hanamachi. At the Yasaka Shrine Setsubun Festival, beans are thrown with participants shouting only “Fuku wa uchi” (Good fortune in). This stems from the belief that no oni (demons) exist within the shrine grounds, so there is no need to chant “Oni wa soto” (Demons out). Dance offerings and bean-throwing: From the four hanamachi—Pontocho Kabukai Association, Miyagawacho Kabukai, Gion Kobu Kabukai, and Gion Higashi Kabukai—beautiful geiko and maiko present gagaku and imayo performances, followed by bean-throwing. The fukumame (lucky beans) distributed at the Yasaka Shrine Setsubun Festival (offering fee 300 yen) always come with a raffle ticket that guarantees a prize, making them very popular each year. Offering fee: 300 yen No blank tickets (every ticket wins something) You can draw your prize on the spot at the raffle venue Items distributed: Fukumame, skewer talismans, and other Setsubun festival–exclusive items. Some fukumame include raffle tickets for prizes. After the dances finish, geiko, maiko, and men and women born in the Year of the current zodiac will throw beans from the Maiden stage. The chance to be handed fukumame directly by hand occurs only at this moment. The front of the Maiden stage fills with excitement, and the shrine grounds take on the lively atmosphere typical of a Setsubun festival.

Photographed on January 31, 2014. These are the flower-filled water basins at Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine.

Today I attended the monthly festival at Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine. This is the shrine grounds around 7:30 a.m.

Photographed on January 21, 2014. These are the hana-chōzu (flower water basins) at Akasaka Hikawa Shrine.

Photographed on January 21, 2014. This is the dog-year omikuji from Akasaka Hikawa Shrine. It has a lovely retro vibe. 😊

Photographed on January 21, 2014. This is the twelve-zodiac omikuji from Akasaka Hikawa Shrine. It's cute. 😊

Photographed on January 21, 2014. This is Tokyo Daijingu Shrine at around 7:30 a.m.

Photographed on January 21, 2014. These are New Year decorations at Tokyo Daijingu Shrine.🎍

Photographed on January 22, 2014. This is the New Year “Musubi no Kirameki” flower water basin at Tokyo Daijingu Shrine. It is on display for a limited time until Tuesday, January 27. I start work at my new workplace today. With a fresh start, I will do my best. 😊

In 1634, Kyokugaki Heikuro galloped up the stone steps on horseback, presented a plum branch to Tokugawa Iemitsu, and was praised as Japan’s greatest equestrian master. Wishing to share the luck of the Year of the Horse, he climbed the success steps.🐎

I will be on winter break until my transfer. Today I am strolling around Tokyo. I visited Tokyo Daijingu Shrine to see the hanachozu (flower-filled water basin). It was around 7:30 in the morning on the shrine grounds.

Photographed on January 15, 2014. These are the hanachōzu (flower water basins) at Senba Tōshō-gū.

Photographed on January 1, 2014. This is Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine’s Ichinen Andai fortune slip. Available only during the New Year season.

Photographed on January 1, 2014. This is Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine's Ichinen An-tai fortune slip. Available only during the New Year period.

A commemorative ema and goshuin designed by Kobukuro Kuroda-san of "Kugatsu Youka" have been created!✨ Heartwarming news has arrived from "Kugatsu Youka" in East Sakai!👀 ～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～ Kugatsu Youka in East Sakai has, with the cooperation of the local Hochigai Shrine, prepared special ema and goshuin. As it happens, there is a story from a mother who used to visit Hochigai Shrine when she moved from Harumidai to Makizukadai in third grade, and we once again felt how deeply the shrine is rooted in Sakai. When we consulted with Hochigai Shrine, who share this connection, they said, “We have long known that Kugatsu Youka has been working hard to enliven the streets of Sakai. We are happy to cooperate.” With those warm words, this initiative became a reality. Visitors may write their wishes on the ema and dedicate them on the ema racks set up at Hochigai Shrine and at three locations within the Sakai Higashi Shopping Street. Please come by and receive these special ema and goshuin along with your heartfelt wishes. Details will be announced at Kugatsu Youka’s counter (@kugatsu.youka) and on their social media. Look forward to it. ～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～

Today I attended the monthly ceremony at Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine. This is the shrine precincts around 7:30 a.m.

Kuwanouchi Shrine Night Kagura & Kotono Shrine Night Kagura From the evening of January 10 into the morning of January 11, the Kuwanouchi Shrine Night Kagura and the Kotono Shrine Night Kagura were safely offered again this year 👹 I can still hear the drumbeat pounding in the back of my ears and the clear, high sound of the flute ringing in my mind 😆 You could hear the dancers’ breathing, see children watching intently, and feel the atmosphere of kagura as locals and returnees to Gokase gathered together ✨ We were treated to another wonderful performance this year 🥰 This beautiful night was made possible by the preservation society members who trained diligently, the local women’s association who served warm meals and drinks through the night, and the officers and staff who worked tirelessly to ensure smooth operations. The smiles of the visitors who return to this place each year exist because of the devoted support of these community members 👏 We would be happy to watch over this proud Gokase kagura tradition with you again next year and the year after 💕 Thank you very much to everyone who came from afar in the cold!

Photographed on January 11, 2014. This is the Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine’s Fortune Tai Omikuji for new adults only.

Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine offers a "Mirai An-tai" fortune slip exclusive to new adults. It runs until January 12. I hope to receive one too. 😊

Shimanto City, Kochi Prefecture — Little Kyoto of Tosa What is the Little Kyoto of Tosa? About 550 years ago, amid the Onin War, Lord Norifusa Ichijo, the former kampaku, relocated to Nakamura (now Shimanto City) and established his residence there. In homage to Kyoto, he laid the foundations for shrine and temple construction and the development of the town. ※kampaku: the highest court noble post assisting the emperor Lord Ichijo’s move brought many Kyoto cultural elements to the area and fostered local pride. Even today, place names and shrines recalling Kyoto—such as Gion, Kyomachi, Kamogawa, and Higashiyama—remain. Because the community has long preserved ties with Kyoto, the Nakamura district of Shimanto City is known as the Little Kyoto of Tosa. The town, however, sits in a region prone to natural disasters. Flooding of the Shimanto River, fires, and earthquakes have erased most old buildings, yet the grid-like street pattern formed from the medieval to early modern periods still survives. History of the Tosa Ichijo Family The Tosa Ichijo family began when Lord Norifusa Ichijo moved in 1468 (Onin 2) to Hata no shō in western Kochi Prefecture (present-day Shimanto City), his hereditary estate. The lord directly managed the manor, controlled logistics along the Shimanto River basin, and laid the groundwork for the town to prosper as a trading hub linking Kyushu and Kansai. Norifusa’s son Fusaie remained as a local lord instead of returning to Kyoto, expanding Hata no shō and bringing the Tosa Ichijo clan to its peak. The Tosa Ichijo governed this land as court nobles-turned-daimyo for 106 years—through Fusafuyu, Fusaki, and Kanesada—until they were driven into Bungo by Motochika Chōsokabe in 1574 (Tensho 2). Historic sites that evoke the Ichijo family Tama-hime’s grave Tamahime, a daughter of Prince Fushimi-no-miya Kunitaka and the wife of Ichijo Fusafuyu, came to Nakamura in 1521 (Dai-ei 1) when she married. Because she arrived on June 22 and died on August 22, the 22nd of every month is still affectionately observed by locals as Tamahime Day. Fuwa Hachimangu Shrine During the Bunmei era (1469–1487), the Ichijo family invited the kami from Iwashimizu Hachimangu Shrine in Kyoto to serve as the protective shrine for Hata. The honden preserves Muromachi-period architectural style and is the oldest shrine building in Kochi Prefecture, designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan. Ichijo Shrine Established in 1862 (Bunkyū 2) on a plot of the former Nakamura Gosho Site by local volunteers honoring the Tosa Ichijo legacy, the shrine precinct contains Ichijo-related historic features such as the makeup well and the “never-blooming” wisteria. Shimanto City Museum "Shirotto" This castle-shaped museum stands within the Nakamura Castle Ruins. From its keep-like building you can look out over the Shimanto River and Higashiyama and enjoy sweeping views of the town. The museum exhibits valuable materials on Shimanto’s nature and culture, as well as the history of the Tosa Ichijo, the Nakamura Yamauchi family, late-Edo period patriots, and Shimanto-born socialist Kotoku Shusui. Festivals and events that evoke Little Kyoto Seasonal events that recall Kyoto culture are held here, including the Tosa Ichijo Kuge Gyoretsu Fuji Matsuri (May), the Daimonji Okuribi bonfire (lunar calendar July 16), the Fuwa Hachimangu Grand Festival (September), and the Ichijo Grand Festival with the Sacred Fire Procession (November). Shimanto City carries a deep historical bond with Kyoto and a living tradition of inherited culture and performing arts. It is for these reasons, and its historical name Nakamura, that the area came to be called Little Kyoto of Tosa—Nakamura. A history linked to Kyoto, a culture passed down through generations. Come and feel the charm that makes Shimanto City known as the Little Kyoto of Tosa.

I watched the New Year’s fire brigade ritual by the Kawagoe Wakatobi Association at Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine. They look sharp.

This is the Year of the Horse omikuji from Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine. May it bring you blessings as well.🐴✨

Photographed on January 1, 2014. This is a photo spot at Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine.

Photographed on January 1, 2014. Around 6:00 a.m. at Kawagoe Kumano Shrine, this is the temizuya (water pavilion). The unusual atmosphere compared with usual is lovely.

Photographed on January 3, 2014. This is the New Year floral temizu basin at Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine.