Autumn Festival at Fujinomiya Sengen Shrine

This is one of my favorite fall festivals and I have attended quite a few times. It has a wonderful local feel, with families and traditional activities. It is a beautiful setting, usually in Mt. Fuji’s shadow. This day, Mt. Fuji was hiding in the clouds.

This fresh cold water comes down the mountain from Mt. Fuji. People bring containers to fill and take home.

My favorite food here is Fujinomiya yakisoba. 

There is usually some kind of martial art type demonstration at festivals here. On this day, there were sword demonstrations, with two participants cutting rolled tatami mats with their super sharp swords. I don’t know the name of the musical instrument that the woman in the kimono was playing, but the sound was perfect for this demonstration.

Below, the newspaper is being sliced.

Below is rolled tatami slicing.

Mt. Fuji is behind these clouds.

A highlight of this festival are these huge wood carts that are pulled around the streets near the shrine by the participants.