 Most viewed - Hachioji 八王子市 |
Costume gals. Even these girls walked on the fire.938 views
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Dai-hiwatari Festival, Mt. Takao, Tokyo371 views
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Hiwatari fire-crossing festival, Mt. Takao, Tokyo361 views
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This is what it looked like by the time we got there. Hardly any fire. It was somewhat wet, and it did not feel hot or warm at all. Pretty disappointing...350 viewsThis is what it looked like by the time we got there. Hardly any fire. It was somewhat wet, and it did not feel hot or warm at all. Pretty disappointing...
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End of the walk. Again we dip our feet in salt. We all ended up with muddy feet. There was no place to wash our feet either. Bringing wet tissues is highly recommended if you plan to walk on the fire.345 views
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Before and after walking over the fire, they stick their feet into a pile of salt.334 views
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The festival site is a short walk from Takao-san-guchi Station. It's held in this large lot cordoned off by a sacred rope. This festival is held as a prayer for traffic safety, household safety, and personal safety. It is held by the Yakuoin Yukiji Te320 views
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Yamabushi--mountain ascetic priests. They carried a conch-shell-like instrument.296 views
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The Hachioji Matsuri is Hachioji's biggest event of the year. Held during the first weekend (Fri-Sun.) of Aug., it is basically a festival of ornate floats paraded around the main streets near JR Hachioji Station. 296 views
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Head priest280 views
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Tekomai at Hachioji Matsuri, Tokyo.261 views
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The name of the festival is "Hiwatari," literally meaning fire crossing. They make a big fire, then allow people to walk over the embers. This is the centerpiece of the festival, a pile of cypress tree branches to be burned.254 views
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Taiko drummer at Hachioji Matsuri. She was very good.231 views
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In the evening on the second day of Hachioji Matsuri is a large folk dance parade called Minyo Nagashi during 4 pm to 6 pm. 民踊流し230 views
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This float had a group of tekomai women, Hachioji Matsuri.226 views
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Women in yukata watching the Hachioji Matsuri.224 views
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Very crowded at Hachioji Matsuri.219 views
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She was doing it to music. Hachioji Matsuri.216 views
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Pulling a float at Hachioji Matsuri.212 views
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Shishimai lion dance, Hachioji Matsuri.211 views
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Everyone crosses barefoot, so we took off our shoes as we approached the fire crossing.194 views
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Back at the Yakuoin temple which belongs to the Shingon Sect of Buddhism. 薬王院192 views
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After the priests, the general public is invited to stand in line and cross the fire for free.176 views
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Various ceremonies, rituals, and chanting takes place during one hour from 1 pm. Divine ax used to cut away earthly desires.161 views
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My YouTube video of the Hachioji Matsuri in 2009.160 views
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First the priests walked on the fire.155 views
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I always wondered how hot it was to walk on the fire, so this time I decided to walk over the fire just to see how much heat my feet could bear. Also see the video at YouTube.152 views
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Poster for Hachioji Matsuri in 2009.151 views
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First we pass through a gauntlet of chanters.146 views
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This festival is held on the second Sunday every March at the foot of Mt. Takao. It takes less than an hour from Shinjuku via the Keio Line. Train fare is only 370 yen. The pile of tree branches is supported by a wooden framework. A priest pours kerosene.145 views
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He shoots an arrow into the pile from the four corners.145 views
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Blessing the path144 views
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Walking on fire144 views
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Priests parade back to temple.144 views
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This long torch will be used to ignite the pile.143 views
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She was tossing out these paper things to the crowd.142 views
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Then we stick our feet in salt.140 views
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This priest splashed the boiling contents of this pot over himself.135 views
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Raking the fire. They are making the footpath for fire walkers.131 views
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Divine arrow to ward off any life-threatening devils. The festival is executed by the mountain ascetic priests called yamabushi.130 views
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End of the line. It reads, "Saikobi."130 views
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After crossing the fire, each person is blessed by the head priest with a tap on the shoulder by a baton.129 views
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Raking the fire128 views
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Long line: It took us over 30 minutes to reach the fire.128 views
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The pile is first ignited from two sides.126 views
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From the Edo Period, the festival was originally held by two local shrines, the Hachiman Yakumo Shrine and Taga Shrine. Both shrines are still involved, but today the festival is more of a community event organized by a large group of local organizations.124 views
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Near the train station is this diagonal road called "Yu Road" leading to the Koshu Kaido (Route 20) main road where the festival is held. 120 views
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The pile catches fire very easily due to the kerosene. Even at this distance, it gets very hot. Also see the video at YouTube.119 views
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I went on the second day years ago, and on the third day on Aug. 9, 2009. The second day features a parade of the 19 floats. The festival attracted over 600,000 people during the three days in Aug. 2009.118 views
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Coming down on Yu Road.118 views
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Koshu Kaido is filled with people during the mikoshi procession.116 views
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JR Hachioji Station is decorated with Hachioji Matsuri paper lanterns. The station also had a festival information booth where you could obtain free festival maps/pamphlets and information (in Jaoanese).115 views
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Minyo Nagashi folk dancing at Hachioji Matsuri, Tokyo.114 views
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JR Hachioji Station is a very busy train station.112 views
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Yu Road is a shopping road.111 views
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There are 19 floats (dashi). Nine of them belong to the Shimo-chiku area of Hachiman Yakumo Shrine in the east part of the city. And ten of them are from the west part (Kami-chiku) under Taga Shrine.111 views
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All-female mikoshi bearers.111 views
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The floats have a masked person dancing as a fox, etc. They are messengers of the gods.110 views
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A float procession is ready to walk down Yu Road at 5 pm.108 views
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Mikoshi bearers108 views
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During the Edo Period, the floats originally had dolls. But since the late Meiji Period, the floats have become sculptured wooden floats. Eight of the floats were lost during World War II, but they were rebuilt. So some of them look quite new. 108 views
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Taiko drummer at Hachioji Matsuri.107 views
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Flute players107 views
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Geisha-like musicians, playing the samisen.107 views
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One traditional float featuring dolls.106 views
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Earlier during the third day, they had Shishimai lion dances by this pair of lions displayed here.105 views
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After the buttsuke meeting, the floats disband into the street.105 views
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The second day also has a taiko drumming contest for the Kanto region.104 views
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On the Koshu Kaido main road, they started a mikoshi (portable shrine) procession from 5 pm on the third day.104 views
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Back to the more crowded Shimo-chiku was a meeting of nine floats at 7:45 pm. They were together for 30 min. 山車年番送り 札の辻103 views
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A girl twirling a decorative pole.102 views
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Then at 6 pm, they held a "buttsuke" meeting between a few floats which performed at an intersection. This was at the Yokoyama-tsuji intersection. ぶっつけ102 views
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Tekomai102 views
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One float had a group of geisha-like musicians.102 views
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White fox102 views
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Sometimes two floats would meet up again and perform together.101 views
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They pulled the floats up and down the main road.100 views
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Another float procession.98 views
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Now this is the Kami-chiku (上地区) section of Koshu Kaido where more floats were being paraded. However, I noticed that there were fewer people here. It's further away from the train station.96 views
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Two floats in Kami-chiku.95 views
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There are always people riding on the roof of the floats.93 views
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Finally, the floats disbanded as they left one by one.90 views
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Hachioji manhole cover. It depicts a Sanbaso dancer (三番叟). Sanbaso is a well-known dancer in Noh and kabuki. He comes from a Noh prayer dance called Okina (翁) dating from the 14th century as a religious ritual. 67 viewsHachioji's manhole shows the Sanbaso as a Hachioji Kuruma Ningyo puppet (八王子車人形). It's a unique offshoot of bunraku puppetry performed by a troupe based in Hachioji.
Here's a video that shows exactly what it is: https://youtu.be/XV8gVw5Rhwg
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Takao Baigo is in the area of the famous Mt. Takao. Plum blossoms here bloom in March, so if you were too busy to see plum blossoms in Feb., you can still see the ume blossoms in mountainous western Tokyo.15 views
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Red plum blossoms really stand out.13 views
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On the top of Kogesawa Bairin, there are benches and picnic area near the plum trees. 13 views
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Top of Kogesawa Bairin. Plum tree branches seem to grow in random directions, but the tree always maintains its balance.13 views
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Kogesawa Bairin13 views
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Next plum grove was Tenjin Bairin. It's somewhat hidden behind trees, but there's a sign and bridge to get there.13 views
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Takao Baigo is near JR Takao Station and Keio Line Takaosanguchi Station. JR Takao Station has this giant tengu mask on the platform. Mt. Takao, which has long been a sacred mountain, supposed to be where one of the major tengu dwells. 12 viewsSo the tengu is a local symbol.
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Steps going down hill of plum trees at Kogesawa Bairin.12 views
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Some plum trees with pruned branches. May they flower again someday.12 views
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Kogesawa Bairin12 views
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Walking path along the river.12 views
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When I took the bus from Takao Station in mid-morning, it was packed even on a weekday during peak bloom.11 views
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Top of Kogesawa Bairin with benches and picnic area near the plum trees. 11 views
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Kogesawa Bairin plum grove at Takao Baigo, Hachioji, Tokyo.11 views
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About Takao Tenmangu Shrine. Plum blossoms are associated with Sugawara Michizane because he once wrote a poem for his beloved plum blossoms that "flew through the air" to follow him when he was exiled to Dazaifu, Fukuoka.11 views
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Next to Tenjin Bairin is this reforestation area.11 views
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Takao Baigo was established in 1964 by a local tourist group. They happened to have multiple plum groves in this area, so they decided to market them together as a tourist attraction named "Takao Baigo" (Takao Plum Blossom Area).10 views
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If you want to see the largest plum grove first (Kogesawa Bairin), get off here at the Oshimo stop (大下). Takes about 20-30 min. from Takao Station.10 views
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Gate to Kogesawa Bairin. All the plum groves have free admission. Kogesawa Bairin is open to the public only when the flowers are on bloom. Otherwise, it's closed to the public (surrounded by a fence).10 views
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Kogesawa Bairin is on a hillside.10 views
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Top of Kogesawa plum grove hill has this small area for picnickers. A few benches and tree stumps to sit on. Good idea to bring takeout food. Pleasant to have lunch here.10 views
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Other end of Surusashi Bairin.10 views
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Takao Baigo stone monument at Takao Ume-no-Sato Machi-no-Hiroba.10 views
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Homes along the river.10 views
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Yuhodo Bairin (遊歩道梅林)10 views
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JR Takao Station. Takes a little over an hour from Tokyo Station on the JR Chuo Line.9 views
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From the north exit,go left to the bus stops to catch a us to Takao Baigo. Otherwise, it's a 15-min. walk. 9 views
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Walking up to the top of Kogesawa Bairin along this path on the periphery.9 views
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The plum grove has walking paths across the slope.9 views
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Top of Kogesawa Bairin.9 views
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Bus stop9 views
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Surusashi Bairin9 views
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Surusashi Bairin9 views
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A grove named Takao Ume-no-Sato Machi-no-Hiroba. 9 views
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Tenjin Bairin well.9 views
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Go up the hill to see the shrine.9 views
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At the top of Tenjin Bairin grove is this small Takao Tenmangu Shrine. Tenmangu (or Tenjin) shrines are dedicated to famous Japanese scholar Sugawara Michizane (845–903) deified as Tenjin, the god of learning and scholarship.9 views
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People in this Takao area have been worshipping Tenjin for centuries. Most all Tenmangu/Tenjin shrines (thousands of them) have plum blossoms.9 views
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This part of the river was dry due to construction work upstream.9 views
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Bus stops between the two nearest train stations and Takao Baigo.8 views
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Walking to Kogesawa Bairin.8 views
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Plum trees also have lichens growing on the trunk and branches. These lichens form on plum trees in rural areas. We don't see them on plum trees in the city because exhaust fumes from vehicles kill them. 8 viewsSo if you see these lichens on plum trees, it means the surrounding environment is very clean. (Parmotrema tinctorum ウメノキゴケ)
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Looking down the hillside of white plum trees.8 views
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Another nice spot for a picnic.8 views
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Kogesawa Bairin8 views
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The next plum grove was Surusashi Bairin (するさし梅林). This might be the second largest plum grove in Takao Baigo.8 views
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Since they are so few in Takao, the red plums really stand out.8 views
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Yunohana Bairin8 views
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Yuhodo Bairin. There's usually a Plum Blossom Matsuri festival on one of the weekends, but it was canceled in 2021 and 2022 due to Covid-19.8 views
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Yuhodo Bairin (遊歩道梅林)8 views
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You can see the plum groves either from the start of the road or from the end of the road where the largest plum grove is located. I took the bus to the end and walked back toward the train station.7 views
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Kogesawa Bairin is on a hillside with walking paths along the trees. Mostly white plum blossoms, but a few red and pink flowers too. ("Bairin" means "plum grove.")7 views
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Kobotoke River and plum blossoms.7 views
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Surusashi Bairin (するさし梅林) is also gated and open to the public only when the flowers are in bloom.7 views
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Yunohana Bairin7 views
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Riverside path map.7 views
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Takao Ume-no-Sato Machi-no-Hiroba is more for picnicking.7 views
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Takao Ume-no-Sato Machi-no-Hiroba7 views
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Another noted plum grove is Tenjin Bairin (天神梅林) named after Takao Tenmangu Shrine on the top of this hill. 7 views
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Toward the end (or beginning) of the trail are more plum blossoms called Yuhodo Bairin (遊歩道梅林).7 views
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Plum blossom bus at Takao Station (North exit). They have two buses running at the same time between Takao Station (North exit) and the plum groves. 7 views
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Takao Baigo is in the area of the famous Mt. Takao. It's an area with several plum blossom groves mainly along a road called Kyu-Koshu Kaido (旧甲州街道) near JR Takao Station and Keio Line Takaosanguchi Station. 6 views
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JR Takao Station. Get out the north exit (Kitaguchi).6 views
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Buses run only once an hour on weekdays and two or three times per hour on weekends. Take the bus going to Kobotoke (小仏).6 views
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From the Oshimo bus stop, walking to Kogesawa Bairin. A short walk.6 views
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Kogesawa Bairin near the Chuo Expressway overhead.6 views
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Top of Kogesawa Bairin with benches and picnic area near the plum trees. 6 views
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Top of Kogesawa Bairin. 6 views
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Kogesawa Bairin hillside walking path.6 views
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The grove is near the mountains, so there's a nice backdrop.6 views
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It's a quiet, rural, residential area along a small river. As you keep walking, you see plum trees here and there.6 views
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Surusashi Bairin grove covers a long, rectangular area. This is one end of it.6 views
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Other end of Surusashi Bairin.6 views
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Yunohana Bairin6 views
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Map of Takao Baigo.6 views
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Map of Takao Baigo.6 views
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Takao Baigo stone monument at Takao Ume-no-Sato Machi-no-Hiroba.6 views
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Yuhodo Bairin (遊歩道梅林)6 views
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