Akiruno’s Ginger Festival is Friday the 9th. I’m thinking about going in the afternoon, but sounds like it’ll be in full swing after work. Description:
About 100 years ago, the people of the area began celebrating an annual festival at the Ninomiya Shrine, believing the eating of ginger would bring good health and well-being for the coming year. Ginger plants and craft items are sold at this festival, along with popcorn, cotton candy, honey-roasted chestnuts and squid cooked on skewers. The puppet show is a favorite. The puppets are about two-thirds the size of a human and magnificently crafted. Drums and other traditional instruments accompany the performance. Events at the festival continue all day. Between 4-8pm a smaller portable shrine is carried through the streets and up the 46 steps to the permanent shrine.
DIRECTIONS: From Fussa go to Haijima Station, then change to the Itsukaichi Line. Get off at Higashiakiru Station. The Ninomiya Shrine is only a four-minute walk from the station. Liz Ruskin
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