Two more Golden Week (late April – early May) festival videos and photos.
Held on May 4 near Notogawa Station, the Iba-no-saka-kudashi Matsuri Festival is said to be one of the most unusual festivals. Young men carry (or drag) three heavy portable shrines down a steep mountain riddled with rough spots. I stayed near the bottom or finish line and declined to go up any further because I was too heavy with camera equipment and the slope was too steep. Here’s the video:
Video link: http://youtu.be/r_FYQwW_l-4
Photos: https://photoguide.jp/pix/thumbnails.php?album=829
Another festival I saw was at Namura Shrine in Ryuo on May 5, 2011. The Sekku Matsuri is a prayer for the healthy growth of children and rich harvest. The highlight is the yabusame horseback archery.
Video link: http://youtu.be/PU7an9F3GdQ
