Category: Festivals

2 articles

History & Origins

Architecture Origins & Systems Sacred Places Nature & Plants Beliefs & Thought

Worship & Rituals

Prayer & Worship Rituals & Ceremonies Purification Sacred Items Festivals

Myths & Legends

Gods & Deities Creation Myths Legends & Tales Sacred Creatures Shinto Cosmology

Illustration of a karakuri mechanical puppet performing on a festival float

Festivals

The Mystery of Karakuri Puppets: Mechanical Marvels Offered to the Gods

Intricate mechanical puppets perform atop festival floats across Japan. We explore why these engineering marvels became sacred offerings to the gods.

Shrine Secrets Editorial Team

Illustration of masks from the Menkake Gyoretsu procession

Festivals

The Mystery of Menkake Gyoretsu — The Eerie Masked Procession of Kamakura's Ancient Festival

The Menkake Gyoretsu at Kamakura's Goryo Shrine features ten eerie masks in procession. We explore the origins and beliefs behind this unusual festival.

Shrine Secrets Editorial Team