I visited Okunitama Shrine in Fuchu City, Tokyo, Japan.
When you leave the hustle and bustle of Tokyo and walk through the streets of Fuchu, there is a moment when the atmosphere suddenly changes. As if the wind of history were gently caressing your cheeks, a somewhat nostalgic and solemn feeling enveloped your skin. Standing there is Okunitama Shrine, which has a history of over 1,900 years. This is not just a shrine. As the main shrine of Musashi Province, it is a place that has accepted people's wishes for more than a thousand years and continued to live beyond the turbulent waves of the times.
When I passed through the torii gate, I found myself in a different world where silence and sacredness intermingled. Even the sound of the trees swaying in the wind and the leaves rustling together sounds like the whispers of God. Every time you step on the cobblestones, you feel like you've stepped back in time. If you look up, you'll see a giant ginkgo tree that's over 1,000 years old, soaring into the sky, and its golden leaves gently coloring the grounds. When the sun shines through, the light shining through the gaps in the leaves shines like a blessing from God.
As you pass through the shrine gate and walk towards the main shrine, you realize that the tranquility that dwells there is not just ""silence."" This is an awe-inspiring silence that was created as a result of people's prayers accumulated over many years. In the past, samurai prayed for victory in battle, merchants prayed for prosperity, and common people prayed for peace. All those prayers have blended into this place, overlapped, and continue to live on even today. Can you hear the echoes of that thousand-year prayer?
We want you to experience this mysterious world as a virtual walk. It's not just sightseeing. This is a pilgrimage that transcends time and space.
A mysterious ritual called “Kurayami Festival” decorates Okunitama Shrine
An essential part of telling the history of this shrine is the Kurayami Festival, which is held every year from April 30th to May 6th. This festival is not just a lively event. It got its name because it used to be held under the cover of darkness, but if you actually see it for yourself, you'll realize that it's not a half-baked festival.
As night falls on May 5th, six gigantic drums make a sound that resonates all at once. At that moment, the atmosphere in Fuchu changed. People hold their breath and wait quietly for darkness to fill in. Then, eight mikoshi are carried out into the darkness, as if gods were touring the earth. This ritual was once performed in complete darkness. Although it is now lit by lanterns, its mystical atmosphere has remained unchanged to this day.
The shouts of the men carrying the mikoshi echo, the murmurs of the crowd mix together, and the sound of drums echoes as if the heart is beating. At that moment, everyone present felt the conviction that ``this is not just a festival.'' This is a thousand-year ritual in which humans and gods interact.
Furthermore, as you pass through the precincts of Okunitama Shrine, you will find the ``Baba Daimon Zelkova Tree Row'', which is designated as a national natural monument. This tree-lined avenue is said to have been around since the Kamakura period, and shows a different face each season. The budding of spring, the dark green of summer, the golden tunnel of autumn, and the dignified bare branches of winter. Each season gives us a different sense of the beauty of the passage of time.
Okunitama Shrine is not just a tourist spot. This place is a ``living history'' where past and present intersect and people and God come into contact. I would like you to experience that sacred atmosphere by taking a virtual walk.
■Photography date
2024/11/27
■How to get there
JR Fuchuhonmachi Station, Fuchu City, Tokyo, Japan (2 minutes walk)
MAP: https://maps.app.goo.gl/BbVpNfjBegReLf6FA
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■Photography tools
Osmo Pocket3 DJI
DSC-RX100M3 SONY
*Shot in 4k60p HLG HDR.
*Google Translate is used to translate subtitles for each country.
■Chapter list
00:00 1.Opening
01:16 2. Arrive at Okunitama Shrine
13:02 3. Zelkova trees at Baba Daimon Gate
■Hashtag
#japantravel#okunitamashrine#japanwalk#tokyo#japantrip#japan