Ja Matsuri 2025 in Japan
A festival of 15 meter-long snakes from around Mamada district
Dates: May 5
These snakes are constructed by the villagers from bamboo, straw, vine, and fern. During the procession the snakes from around the Mamada district gather at Mamada Hachiman Jinja and are made to "drink" pond water to keep bugs and disease away from the rice fields. This is one of the most bizarre events in Japan but certainly worth checking out.
Authors: Olha Savych