Lonely Planet Author, Ray Bartlett experiences one of Japan's most spiritual ceremonies, the Nachi Fire festival. Dating back almost 1700 years ago this cleansing ritual is a symbol of burning away the sins and mistakes of the past year. For even an agnostic like Ray, this spiritual festival left him feeling humbled, introspective and in awe.
Having attended this festival myself, I have to agree about just how spiritual (but not necessarily religious!) this experience is. It's the same feeling you get watching a shark at an aquarium: something ancient full of strength, unsullied by modern life... And yet, here you are, watching it! And at the end, the fires had produced so much smoke that the whole area felt other-worldly. Another thing he's right about: there were a LOT of people. I had to climb up on a fence to see anything.
getsuookami 1 year ago
Very nice video
clubseabreezedeals 2 years ago
There is a lot of crap and trash in Japan's modern culture though, and most people don't realize how much of Japan's ancient culture was influenced and borrowed from Chinese culture.
devilhunterred 2 years ago
amazing. :)
xozuzu 2 years ago
Agnostic?? Make up your mind already!
nishbrown 2 years ago
ahhhh japan is so beautiful, it's awesome that they really respect their country's natural beauty down to the simplest things. it's depressing how disgustingly flat, boring and suburbanized how much of the us is, with our megachurches...
welcomegohome 2 years ago 2