Japanese people are a festival-loving people. There are festivals held somewhere in Japan all year round. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, festivals themselves have been put on hold for the past few years, but with the lifting of restrictions on movement, this year...
Satomiori
Noheji Town in Aomori Prefecture is a port town located at the base of the Shimokita Peninsula, at the very innermost part of Mutsu Bay, between the Tsugaru and Shimokita Peninsulas. "Noheji" comes from the Ainu language, meaning "nuppet" (river flowing through a field).
In Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, there are 12 shrines and temples dedicated to the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac. Each zodiac sign has its own principal image called a "Kedegami-san" (triangle god), a unique feature of the Sendai region.
Known for the Aizu-Tajima Gion Festival, Aizu-Tajima was once a bustling post town on the Shimotsuke Kaido (Aizu-Nishi Kaido) road, which connected Nikko to Aizu-Wakamatsu, the center of the Aizu region.
Iwate, blessed with abundant nature, is home to many mystical power spots. This time, we'll be introducing one of these power spots, the giant power stone "Eboshi," which is within walking distance from Morioka Station.
Naka
Dososhin, or roadside gods, are said to be placed at the borders of villages and along mountain passes to ward off foreign epidemics and evil spirits. It's notable that they come in a variety of different types and shapes throughout Japan.
Murasakihime
When you think of Inari shrines, the red torii gates are what make them stand out, but the highlight is the vermilion torii gates seen at Takayama Inari Shrine in Aomori Prefecture, at the northern tip of Honshu. In snowy Aomori Prefecture, the vermilion torii gates stand in a garden buried in white snow...
Takahata Tenmangu Shrine, located in Iizaka-cho, Fukushima City, in northern Fukushima Prefecture, holds the "Usokae Festival" twice a year. It is held with the hope that all misfortunes will be turned into lies and turned into good things. Only at the Usokae Festival can you get...
There are many winter festivals in Tohoku, but one that stands out among them and has a long history is the Kokusekiji Somin Festival, held at Mt. Myoken's Kokusekiji Temple in Mizusawa, Oshu City, Iwate Prefecture. It has a long history...
Mount Chokai, which straddles Akita and Yamagata prefectures, is one of Japan's 100 most scenic spots and is also counted among Japan's 100 most famous mountains. With an elevation of over 2,300 meters, its peak soars above the clouds...
