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The Ishigedo, located along the Oirase Gorge trail, is considered the house of the demon Omatsu. When the word "demon" is mentioned, most people think of a scary being with abnormally colored skin and several inhuman traits. Such a description could match a wide number of folktale demons, but not that of the demon Omatsu. Kijin Omatsu, or the so-called Evil Omatsu, is a legendary and folkloric character originally from the prefecture of Aomori, Northern Japan. What is conside

Shimenawa rope adorns a colossal tree of more than a 1000 years old. On the North side of Mt Fuji, Japan’s most famous mountain and UNESCO World heritage site, is located the Fujiyoshida Shrine. Dedicated to Konohana-sakuya Hime (her legend has been narrated in the “Konohana-sakuya Hime, the Blossom Princess” article) the shrine used to be a starting point for those aiming to climb the mountain: in fact, its strategic location would shorten the climb to the summit. The shinto

Location: Ueno Park. The cherry blossom season is considered one of the most special moments of the year in Japan. The practice of hanami ( 花見), cherry blossom viewing, is popular between Japanese people and tourists. Many visit the country between the end of March and beginning of April just to witness the magical blooming of the cherry trees. All cities and towns are suddenly adorned with small pink flowers that create a long-awaited magical spring atmosphere after the col