Awata Matsuri: An Ancient Festival Revived

Giant lantern floats light up the night, and the next day a 1.2-ton portable shrine is carried through the streets by a total of 250 people, preceded by long poles rising into the sky, balanced by people on foot. Dating back 1,000 years, Awata Matsuri is a syncretic festival involving both Buddhism and Shinto. Although portions of it were discontinued over the years, today it has been revived in its entirety. Discover the bonds this festival is creating among parishioners, students and others.