Escape to myself

I arrived three days too late to watch this world famous parade of massive shrines though I don’t think I would have been able to book in anywhere as it attracts tens of thousands of visitors to the event. It has been celebrated for hundreds of years and many of the huge shrines, which are processed through the town are centuries old. Beautiful and intricate, some are on show in a museum. Others have their own “garages“ throughout the old town. There are two festivals; one in Spring to pray for a good harvest and one in October as a harvest festival. UNESCO awarded the festival “intangible cultural treasure” status.

Near the museum is a charming temple.

A walk through the beautifully preserved and restored old town included a visit to a heritage house formerly that of a merchant containing the Kusakabe collection of folk art. It was fascinating to see inside a home and not a palace or temple. Well worth visiting.

Then coffee, cake and ramen.