Ohara Hadaka Matsuri

The Ohara Hadaka Matsuri (大原はだか祭り, “Ohara Naked Festival”) is a thrilling 2-day annual autumn event held in Isumi City, Chiba. Rooted in deep local traditions, the festival serves as a passionate prayer for bountiful fishing catches and safety at sea. On the Saturday, teams of half-dressed men carry eighteen gleaming portable shrines through the town and towards the local fishing harbour, before making a lot of noise and fiercely tossing them as high as they can into the air.

The most photographed spectacle, however, is the shiofumi (汐ふみ)—a breathtaking procession that sees each mikoshi (portable shrine) carried directly into the ocean one after the other. Participants brave the crashing autumn waves, hoisting the heavy shrines above the water in a dramatic display of endurance and devotion. On the Sunday, there is also a vibrant procession of the illuminated mikoshi around the town, but it’s Saturday that obviously attracts the biggest crowds. If you plan on going, aim to get to the harbour area for around midday to secure a good viewing spot.

Despite the distance from Tokyo and its location on the east coast of the Boso Peninsula, Ohara isn’t too difficult to reach. The Wakashio Limited Express from Tokyo Station gets you to this traditional fishing port in about 70 minutes (direct).