In Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture, there is the ancient and prestigious Atago Shrine. The shrine is deeply revered, especially by residents of the surrounding area, and worship services and festivals are held on specific dates each year...
Sokushinbutsu (self-mummified monks). Even after their lives are over, their form remains forever, watching over people. At the end of their training, monks voluntarily devote themselves to a diet of only nuts and wild vegetables, reducing the amount of fat in their bodies to the limit...
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...
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...
