■WARAJI MATSURI(Straw Sandal Festival)

This festival on first Friday and first Saturday of August celebrates a huge straw sandal that is dedicated to the Haguro Shrine on February 10.

■MIZUKAKE MATSURI (Water Throwing Festival)

Starting at Kashima Shrine, this event occurs at the end of the festivities on October 19.

■SANBIKI SHISHI-MAI (Dance of the Three Lions)

This dance, handed down over generations in the Oonami district, occurs during the Sumiyoshi Shrine festival, October 11-12.

■AKATSUKI-MAIRI (Visit to the Shrine in the Dawn)

This event occurs on February 10-11. People pray for protection against disasters and for a good harvest. An immense straw sandal is carried up Mt. Shinobu to the Haguro Shrine. The sandal is 12 meters long, weighs 2 tons and 80people carry it.

■IIZAKA KENKA MATSURI (Fighting Feastival of Iizaka)

During the main festival on October 5, six floats parade through the street and on to the shrine with a portable shrine in the lead.

■JUUNI KAGURA(The Twelve Sacred Arts)

This annual festival is held at Kuronuma Shinto Shrine in spring. The dancer wears “Kari-ginu”(hunting clothes),“Hakama”(an apron-like skirt), and “Tabi”(socks).