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While the festival goes on above, there's a Yamabushi Fire Ceremony on a lower level...

From the main temple area in Yoshino, you can descend nearly 500 feet on hundreds of steep steps to a lower level. On this level is the Shinto shrine called Noten Okami which the yamabushi often use for their goma fire ceremonies. To the left is a view looking back up the steps. Right behind me is a bronze globe supported by a dragon.
A bit further along and just past the Noten Okami is a wonderful dragon fountain. This is near a large area hung with prayers and the origami "1000 Cranes". In this large rectangular area, and under the flags and cranes, you can find many Japanese walking 100 times around an elliptical path while they recite the Heart Sutra, or Hanya Shingo. To the right a Yamabushi enters the temple before the ceremony.

Above is a photograph of one of the yamabushi blowing into a conch shell horn prior to the Goma Fire Ceremony. To the right is the head priest. The color of the pom-poms seem to indicate "rank".

Noda City / Yoshino 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / Ninjutsu Memories