Amazing Japanese Festivals in August

Many neighborhood associations take great effort to prepare for the yearly Matsuri (festival) in their area. This photo is taken in August as a group in the Noge area of Yokohama transports their O-mikoshi (portable shrine). The taxi driver proudly told me that one of these shrines can cost more than 1 oku yen (more than 1 million USD) and I've witnessed how these beautifully intricate shrines carefully kept and maintained. They are usually on display before being carried by the participants and no one minds if you snap a photo or take a close look. These wooden shrines are beautiful icons and something to admire whenever you can. If you happen to hear the sound of drums and bells in the summertime while walking around Tokyo, you can usually search out one of these processions and get a very local taste of Summer activity in Japan. Here is a nice video of Omatsuri from photos that go back some 100 years. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxypOcDidj0