New Years Festival

Today we drove to an Inari shrine. This one is for prosperity, family fortune, a good catch and traffic safety. Three million people visit every year. The drive from Sasebo to Kashima took an hour. When we got there we realized there was a New Years Festival going on. Food stands sold hot potatoes, tea, cotton candy, crepes, octopus, chicken, meat balls, noodles, candied fruit, toys, swords, sandals and tea pots. The place was crowded. Ahead is a temple up on the hill. To reach the temple was about 150 steps. We went beyond that to other temples.

This is the Yutoku Inari Shrine. People observed religious traditions here including ringing of bells and washing hands and offering coins.

This is the view from the temple down the hill.