In this video I take you to a centuries old harvest festival at one of Tokyo’s oldest shrine, the Okuni Tama Jinja in the western part of the city. The rice crop in this part of Japan is normally gathered in mid-September. So, once the heavy work of reaping and stacking the rice stalks to dry is over, it is time to celebrate and give thanks to the gods for a successful harvest.
Every neighborhood in Japan has its local Shinto shrine, or jinja in Japanese that the harvest festivals are associated with. There is nothing more fun than attending such an event, especially if you are in a farming area. There is an abundance of food and drinks freely shared with all who attend. It is an excellent opportunity to connect with the locals, if you are a visitor or to catch up with your neighbors, if you live here. The pandemic put a halt to these wonderful events so my surprise and delight to see that the Okuni Tama Shrine was holding a trimmed down version of their Kuri Matsuri (Chestnuts Festival) was great. This part of Tokyo was famous as producing the best chestnuts in the area. Every year part of the crop was which were delivered to the Shogun’s castle in Edo (present days central Tokyo) which gave the name of the festival. The event is held in the evening and is famous for the 250 votive lanterns that line the Kamido, the Path of the Gods as the road leading to the shrine is called. The soft light of the candles, flickering in the darkness created a special atmosphere, a magical world of shadows and light so calming and delightful I didn’t want to leave. Enjoy this virtual visit to the Okuni Tama Shrine and if you want to see more of the shrine in daylight, consider joining me on one of my virtual tours there available on Amazon Explore for those living in the US
or through my website for everyone else
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ABOUT THE SPIRIT OF JAPAN TOURS:
In Japanese, the character WA (和) means harmony and equilibrium. The concept of WA can be observed in every aspect of life in Japan: from the way society functions to the harmonious way the elements of a Japanese garden are combined and the elegant, precise movements of a master performing a tea ceremony – all of that is WA and all aim to achieve perfect harmony.
At Spirit of Japan Tours we are dedicated to help you experience the spirit of WA on a deep and transformational level. Our carefully crafted tours incorporate the best of Japan’s irresistible charm: its ancient history and traditions, awe-inspiring natural beauty and its unique blend of spirituality, based on Zen and native Shinto practices. They are a joyful creation that will enhance your sense well-being and enjoyment of life and help you discover your own inner WA – the place where you are in perfect harmony with your own self and the world.
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