It's dark outside because of the Ume plum rain, but the gorgeousness of the hydrangeas stands out! This is a temple called Jokoji Temple in Kamisaijo, Shiojiri City, and is also Famous as Camphor Tree Temple.

July 7 ~ July 9 Iwauchi Shrine Annual Grand Festival Held in The Iwauchi Shrine Annual Grand Festival is a festival that is familiar to the Locals as a "Inai Festival". As the Yoimiya Festival on the 7th, the Japan Festival on the 8th, and the Return Festival on the 9th, the portable shrine is passed on the 8th and 9th. Saruta Hikomei and Uzu Memei are appointed from the Honkai at the age of 42 that year. On the 9th, the national highway was completely closed to traffic, and the sight of two portable shrines running up the "Shrine Slope" at once is sure to take your breath away. Town Intangible folk cultural assets's "Akasaka Guy" is also a highlight. You can check the detailed schedule on the Iwauchi Shrine website. Don't miss this once-a-year opportunity!

Photographed on July 6, 24. It is the wind chime of Kawagoe Hachimangu. 🎐 The strips are also wonderful.

Photographed on July 6, 24. It is the wind chime of Kawagoe Hachimangu. 🎐

It is the Tanabata Festival of Hofu Tenmangu Shrine in Yamaguchi Prefecture. The entire Tenmangu area is vividly decorated with strips of paper and wreaths, and at night, the "Hikari no Sai Garden" is set up to light up the umbrella artwork, and the corridor is enveloped in a fantastic atmosphere.

Traditional Performing Arts of Gokasecho, Miyazaki Prefecture — Usu-daiko Dance The Usu-daiko dance performed at the autumn grand festival of Gion Shrine was once offered on the lunar calendar date of September 9, so it is also called the "kunchi dance," and it has been passed down for more than 400 years. It is said to have begun when members of the defeated Taira clan, driven from Kyoto and wandering in exile, reached the mountain hamlet of Shiiba on their way to safety and, while remembering the glittering capital, danced in the village of Kuraoka. The dance shows a poised, dignified movement within its grace, evoking the hearts of people from the capital, and it is offered each year at Gion Shrine’s autumn festival. <Legendary Events>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In the first year of Bunji (1185), near the end of the Genpei conflicts, remnants of the Taira clan who were defeated at the Battle of Dan-no-ura fled into the interior to evade the Genji pursuit. They reached the village of Kuraoka and, on their way to Mt. Shiiba, left the weak, women, and children in the mountains near Kuraoka Hakki because of the steep, treacherous roads. In Genkyu 2, the Kamakura shogunate did not ease its pursuit of the Taira remnants and ordered Nasu Daihachiro Munenaga to hunt down the clan that had fled into the Kyushu Mountains. Receiving the order, Nasu Daihachiro's party entered Kuraoka intending to head for Shiiba, and finding the Taira fugitives in Kuraoka lacking the will to fight, they staged a dance of shared company to comfort them after the long journey, setting aside the victors' arrogance to show compassion for the defeated. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The dance described above became the foundation of the Kuraoka Usu-daiko dance, which, after cycles of prosperity and decline and several relocations over the ages, is said to have survived in its present form. Dancing to the beat of drums and bells, performers display dignified movements within an overall elegance. In recent years, the Gion Shrine Usu-daiko Dance Preservation Society, with the cooperation of children from Gokase Nature School and local parishioners, has carried on the dance. Schedule for the Usu-daiko dance: every year on October 9.

Traditional Performing Arts of Gokasecho, Miyazaki Prefecture: Kuraoka Staff Technique The Kuraoka staff tradition follows the Ōkuruma school, said to be a martial art founded by Marume Kurando (one of the four greats of the Shinkage tradition) from the Higo Sagara domain. Also called Shinkage Ōkuruma Musō-ryū, documents show the earliest mention of Kuraoka in the early Edo period. After that, the art passed through Mamimahara and Omae in Shiiba Village before returning to practitioners in Kuraoka at the local end of the line. Kuraoka staff techniques use two kinds of staff: the long staff, 6 shaku 2 sun (about 188 cm), and the short staff, 3 shaku (about 91 cm). The forms are basically defensive. There are over thirty paired forms, including long staff versus short staff and staff versus sword. Forms that employ the sword are commonly called shiraha (white-blade). The Kuraoka Staff Preservation Society offers a shiraha dedication at the summer grand festival of Gion Shrine and provides instruction to students at Kuraoka Junior High School.

Traditional Performing Arts of Gokasecho, Miyazaki Prefecture: Murono Yoi Kagura The Murono Yoi Kagura at Mikasho Shrine is said to have been handed down during the Meiji era from the Iwato Kagura lineage, specifically the Kuwanouchi Shrine Kagura and the Furudono Shrine Kagura. The sake-straining dance has become a merry performance portraying a farming couple. In the mid-Meiji period, Minosuke Kai, the first head of the Murono district, brought kagura from Furudono to the Konpira-yama festival, central to the Murono and Akatani districts, and passed it down to the present day. The tradition once died out, but it was reformed when kagura was requested for the Tsuhana Tunnel breakthrough ceremony in 1972 (Showa 47). Murono Yoi Kagura schedule: the second Saturday in December

[Miyazaki Prefecture Gokasecho Traditional Performing Arts] Kuraoka Gion Kagura Kuraoka Gion Kagura is a kagura preserved at Kuraoka’s Gion Shrine. Its origins are said to trace back to dances performed in the broad courtyard of the ancient Kogamure Shrine recorded in the Engishiki. In Genryaku 2 / Juei 4 (1185), after the Heike clan’s defeat at the Battle of Dan-no-ura, members of the Heike fled through the Kyushu mountains and reached Kuraoka, then pressed further into the remote mountains toward Shiiba. At that time, court entertainments and sacred music from Kyoto—gigaku, gagaku—and Ise-style kagura that the Heike brought with them blended into the existing local kagura, and over time this fusion developed into a distinctive form. The kagura’s sound is said to have been shaped by a drum made from the trunk of a walnut tree grown in the hidden recesses of Mt. Shiraiwa, stretched with deerhide taken from the remote mountains and bound at both ends with hemp twine; a flute made from bamboo with holes bored in it; and graceful, capital-style rhythms and hand clapping. These elements combined into the unique musical pulse of the Kuraoka kagura. In July 2023, the Kuraoka Gion Kagura Preservation Society revived this ancient kagura drum. Kuraoka Gion Kagura schedule: mid-July (Gion Shrine), early October (Gion Shrine), mid-November (Amanatsu Shrine)

Miyazaki Prefecture Gokasecho Traditional Performing Arts: Kuwanouchi Shrine Kagura Kuwanouchi Kagura is believed to have begun in the early Meiji era. A surviving costume is dated Meiji 3, and the shrine’s relocation to Habu in the same year suggests the kagura started around that time. The masks used are mainly the hannya mask, more frequently employed than in other kagura, and the performance is characterized by a faster tempo. The whole community works together to pass the tradition to future generations, putting great effort into training successors. In spring and autumn, the kagura is offered at the Kuwanouchi Shrine grand festival. In January, a night-long kagura dedication prays for a bountiful harvest and the well-being of residents. Kuwanouchi Shrine Night Kagura Schedule…Every year on the second Saturday of January

[Miyazaki Prefecture Gokasecho Traditional Performing Arts] Furutono Shrine Kagura During the Muromachi period, local jinkagura and Iwato kagura were offered together here for rites, but through several revivals Ise kagura became blended in, producing a slower-tempo (roku-choshi) kagura that continues to the present day. The origin of this kagura is the “Amano-Iwato Opening,” and it was performed to pray for a bountiful harvest and household safety. From Taisho 6 (1917) it also included prayers to calm fires; today it additionally includes traffic safety prayers, and a night kagura festival is held every January. Furutono Shrine night kagura schedule…mid-January

Traditional Performing Art of Gokasecho, Miyazaki Prefecture: Ara-Odori (UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage) The Ara-Odori of Gokase is a style of elegant festival dance that was designated a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property on January 8, 1987 (prefectural designation: May 15, 1962). In February 2021, a group of 41 nationwide “furyu odori” (elegant festival dances), including Gokase’s Ara-Odori, was selected as a candidate for inscription on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list. A nomination dossier was submitted to UNESCO in March of the same year, and the dances were officially inscribed on November 30, 2022. “Furyu odori” embodies the spirit of flamboyance and eye-catching elegance. Performers wear elaborate costumes and carry decorative props as they dance to songs and the sound of flutes, drums, and small gongs. Across Japan, 42 furyu odori entries (covering 25 prefectures and 43 municipalities) are designated National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Properties. In Miyazaki Prefecture, Gokase’s Ara-Odori is the only designated example. These dances carry prayers from local communities for protection from calamities, memorials for the dead, prosperous harvests, and rain. Villagers of all ages take part during festivals and annual events. Each locality’s history and natural environment are reflected in its performance, and the dances serve as a vital source of community energy. The Ara-Odori of Gokase is said to have begun in the Tensho era (1573–1592) when Sakamoto Iga no Kami Masayuki, lord of Sakamoto Castle (upstream of the Mikasho River), started the dance to raise his troops’ morale before going to war. Later, in the Keicho era (1596–1615), his grandson Sakamoto Yamashiro no Kami Nyudo Kyukaku established a ritual code for offering the dance to the guardian deity Futakami Daimyojin (now Mikasho Shrine). At that time, it is said that a successor from the temple called shinbochi oversaw funerary rites, and a monkey kept at the temple was also made to join the dance. One theory holds that the dance originated in Sakamoto, in Ōmi Province (modern Shiga Prefecture). However, the Nisshu Takachiho Kokon Jiran-ki (collected in Volume 4 of the Hyuga Local Historical Materials) records that descendants of Sasaki Rokkaku Takayori from Ōmi fled to Takachiho and served the Mitai clan; their descendants later took the names Saho, Sakamoto, and Masaki. The Sakamoto mentioned here is not the Sakamoto of Sakamoto Castle but the Sakamoto from Mukoyama to Kanegase, a separate lineage with its own origins distinct from the Minamoto, Oogami, or Fujiwara clans. Ara-Odori schedule: every year on the fourth Sunday of September

[Gokasecho, Miyazaki Prefecture Tourist Spot] Myoken Shrine Founded about 1,100 years ago in the 11th year of Jōgan (870) during the reign of Emperor Seiwa, it has been venerated as a water deity. The spring water emerging from a limestone cave layer on Mount Gion and flowing into a corner of Myoken Shrine is called “Four Hundred Million-Year Drop: Myoken Sacred Water.” It has long been known as the sacred nursing water and was selected as one of the 100 Famous Waters of the Heisei era. Autumn festival: early November

Miyazaki Prefecture Gokasecho Sightseeing Spot: Gion Shrine Gion Shrine was founded around the 16th year of Emperor Kinmei’s reign (around 525 AD) when an epidemic swept the Chihogō area in central Kyushu. It was established in Kuraoka, at the heart of the region, as a protector deity prayed to for the removal of disease and misfortune. Locals affectionately call it “Gion-san.” On the shrine grounds stands a zelkova tree said to have been planted by Nasu Daihachiro and Munemasa when they visited in Genkyu 2 (1205). Designated a town natural monument, this giant tree is about 37 meters tall and has an estimated age of roughly 800 years. Deities enshrined: Sobo no Kami / Susanoo no Mikoto, Izanami no Mikoto, Oonamuchi no Mikoto, Kushinadahime no Mikoto, Itsuse no Mikoto, Somin Shorai, Kotan Shorai, Tenman Tenjin, Ashinazuchi no Kami, Tenazuchi no Kami, Inari Daimyojin

Miyazaki Prefecture Gokasecho Sightseeing Spot: Furuto-no Shrine The founding date is unknown. According to shrine tradition, when the loyal retainer Shibahara Matazaburo Nyudo Shotora of the Yoshino court moved from Shibahara in Osekata Village to Kuwanochi Yokodori, he is said to have brought the three deities of Kumano that had been worshipped in Shibahara to this site. Since ancient times the shrine has been revered as the Shrine of the Fire God. When a parishioner’s house faced fire, mysterious sounds would reportedly arise within the shrine to warn of it, and the parishioners would stay at the shrine to perform rituals to avert the fire. On the grounds stand three giant cedar trees about 580 years old and over 30 meters tall, designated as town natural monuments. A kaya tree likewise designated as a town natural monument is a giant estimated at about 600 years old and 34 meters tall. Spring Festival: Early April Grand Annual Festival: September 23 Night Kagura: Early January Deities enshrined: Izanagi no Mikoto, Izanami no Mikoto, Kagutsuchi no Mikoto, with Fujiwara no Michizane also enshrined.

Miyazaki Prefecture Gokasecho Tourist Spot: Sankasho Shrine Sankasho Shrine was established when a small shrine (hokora) from Mt. Futagami, said to be the site of the descent of the heavenly grandson, was brought down and built at the mountain’s foot. Founded around the late 900s CE, its nagare-zukuri-style structure is entirely made of cypress, and its architectural design and carvings are regarded as masterpieces of the early modern period. This main hall is designated as a tangible cultural property of Miyazaki Prefecture. The site also houses the stone-carved Gate Guardian Deity statues (two faces), which are designated as a prefectural tangible cultural property. At the autumn grand festival, Aradance, an ancient performance tradition from the Sakamoto district designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan, is offered. On November 30, 2022, 41 fūryū-odori (stylish folk dances) across Japan, including Gokase’s Aradance, were inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. On the shrine grounds and in the surrounding garden, you can find Tsukushi rhododendrons and western rhododendrons, along with weeping cherry trees and camellias. They typically reach peak bloom from mid-April through mid-May, offering flower viewing during that period. The Sankasho Shrine Spring Festival is held in April. Deities enshrined: Izanagi no Mikoto, Izanami no Mikoto, Sarutahiko no Mikoto, and Fujiwara no Michizane (enshrined together).

Photographed on July 2, 24. It is the Tanabata Festival of Tokyo Daijingu Shrine. 🎋 Due to the shooting time, the light came in.

Photographed on July 2, 24. It is the Precincts of Tokyo Daijingu Shrine. It's Tanabata. 🎋

Wednesday, July 3 This time I’m sharing a refreshing “Gion set” featuring Gion Shrine and the great Hinoki cypress of Gion🌱✨ First, I watched people pass through the chinowa (a ring of miscanthus) at Gion Shrine⛩👀 As a symbol of the Nagoshi no Harae purification rite, walking through the ring is meant to ward off epidemics and pray for health and safety🙏✨ The shrine grounds were filled with the chorus of cicadas, and dragonflies were already darting over the nearby rice fields, giving the place a full summer feel🌞 With the rainy season suddenly over, the strong sun and humidity are exhausting, but summer scenes like these are lovely in their own way😊💕 Next, I went to see the great Hinoki cypress of Gion🌳✨ Around the cypress, birdsong and dappled sunlight made a pleasant soundtrack, and the climate still felt like summer was just beginning😌🌿 The great cypress stood tall and quiet, radiating a mystical air✨ While photographing, I noticed a bulging shadow around the tree’s waist… from a distance I panicked thinking it was a beehive, but it seems to be a burl that has formed😓 I was relieved it wasn’t a beehive, yet I do feel a bit concerned about the tree’s condition💦 Putting that aside, I wanted to convey the cypress’s mystery and presence, so I did my best to shoot from ground level, even pressing my face close to the earth… but with an ordinary lens and my current skills, I hit my limits😂 I’ll keep improving… Everyone is busy and summer fatigue and heatstroke are real concerns, but every so often why not relax in nature, cool off, and recharge your energy😌✨

Photographed on July 2, 24. This is Hanachozu from Tokyo Daijingu Shrine. Limited until July 7th.

Wakaichioji Shrine Summer Purification Ritual and Mantō Festival🏮 Today, June 30 and July 1, the Summer Purification Ritual and Mantō Festival took place at Wakaichioji Shrine. The summer purification ritual cleanses the impurities accumulated over the past six months and prays for safety in the coming six months. Lanterns donated by local businesses lit up, creating a magical atmosphere in the shrine grounds at night🏮

This is the Kazaguruma of the Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine Direct Meeting. When I Prayer on July 1st, it was still Restrooms available.

This is the Kazaguruma of the Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine Direct Meeting. When I Prayer on July 1st, I was still Restrooms available.

It is the mauve color of Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine and the light mauve wind chime. At the Prayer on July 1, it had already been removed.

Shinko Festival of the Gion Festival. Hoyt while carrying a Mikoshi portable shrine! Hoyt!! Scene of shouting was like a symbol of summer in Kyoto.

Inside the venue of the Gion Festival Gari smoke from the stalls rises into the sky The smoke is illuminated by the lights. It was like Yamaboko was standing on the stage of Gion. Combined with the overflowing enthusiasm of people An indescribable live feeling is created The whole venue became a fantastic view.

Today, I attended the Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine Monthly Festival. Kazaguruma was taken on June 29. The kazaguruma had been removed.

"Beyond Time" Itsukushima Shrine in Miyajima, Hatsukaichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture Photograph of the 9th generation of Otorii Gate near the end of repairs A historical building called Otorii Gate that has been passed down through the ages

"Itsukushima Shrine / Five-story pagoda" in Hatsukaichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture I love the staircase in the foreground because it is tasteful

As a valedictorian, I visit nearby shrines many times. I often hear about the First Pilgrimage to the Shrine, It looks like summer has begun. Ume plum rain, Mr./Ms. also has a camera in hand How about Prayer while Oyster a good sweat ~