An alternative guide to Japan

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Fushimi Hakuseki Inari, 50 Torii Under the Hydrangeas

In a valley of Yokosuka, more than fifty torii climb between cedars and hydrangeas. Fushimi Hakuseki Inari is the wild cousin of Kyoto's great shrine: damper, lonelier, almost absorbed by the mountain.

Urban Exploration

We slip through Japan’s forgotten corridors; silent rooftops, rusted tunnels, and cities paused in time.

@jordymeow

@jordymeow

This week in Japan

317 festivals and events, Nov 8 to Nov 14

Sun 8 Nov Event Last day Gionza Village Kabuki Takamatsu (Kagawa-cho), Kagawa In the hills south of Takamatsu, villagers stage kabuki at a shrine theatre, keeping a farmers' tradition alive. Sun 8 Nov Matsuri Last day Horowasan Shimotsuki Kagura Yokote (Omori), Akita A whole night of sacred dances thanking the gods for the harvest, in a priest's house deep in the hills. Sun 8 Nov Illumination Now Kingonji's giant ginkgo lit at night Okuizumo, Shimane · until Nov 14 A 600-year-old ginkgo blazes gold against the black night of Okuizumo, alone above the harvested fields. Sun 8 Nov Matsuri Last day Aguni Island Festival Aguni, Okinawa On an island of seven hundred people, two nights of music by the harbour and fireworks over the bay. Sun 8 Nov Matsuri Last day Todoroki Autumn Festival Kaiyo, Tokushima In a gorge full of red maples, bearers run their portable shrine down from Todoroki shrine and wade with it into the icy pool of the falls. Sun 8 Nov Matsuri Last day Memorial service for old eyeglasses Izumo, Shimane Izumo's temple of eyesight gives thanks to worn-out glasses from all over Japan before they are recycled. Sun 8 Nov Event Last day Tengu Hisa Puppet-Head Festival Tokushima (Kokufu), Tokushima A tribute to master carver Tengu Hisa and his Awa puppet heads, with displays and short performances. Sun 8 Nov Matsuri Last day Misogoro Giant Festival Minamishimabara, Nagasaki Arie celebrates Misogoro, a gentle legendary giant, with a parade, strength contests and a somen eating race. Sun 8 Nov Matsuri Last day Shibayama Haniwa Festival Shibayama, Chiba Locals dressed as Kofun-era haniwa figures parade to the burial mounds, near Narita airport. Sun 8 Nov Matsuri Last day Bellows-Shaped Ohitaki at Hanayama Inari Kyoto (Yamashina), Kyoto The fire is built like a forge bellows, and mandarins roasted in the embers are said to keep winter colds away.

+307 more festivals and shows this week All on the app’s map, day by day. iPhone Android

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Dates estimated from past years: check the official site before you go.

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