Aki’s Hometown Pride
12.30.2021

My favorite place in my hometown
I grew up in the mountains in the northern part of Ibaraki Prefecture. The Nishi Kanasuna Shrine is roughly 15 minutes from my house. Once every 72 years they hold the largest prayer festival in Japan, with a history of over 1200 years. The main shrine sits atop a massive cliff that puts Yosemite to shame, and you are able to see all the way to Mt. Fuji, 280 kilometers (170 miles) away. There are no city lights, which make for an uninterrupted starry night sky that is spectacular. I often like to visit this sacred place alone to quiet my soul.