Hamaorisai Festival is held annually at Nishihama Beach in Chigasaki City. This is a summer festival where people take the mikoshi, or portable Shinto shrine, into the sea to please the god living in it. This year’s festival was held on the 20th of July, which is also the Umi-no-Hi (or the Ocean Day).

The festival starts very early in the morning at 4:00am.

A portrait of a man waiting for his group to take the mikoshi into the water.

Struggling with the waves is one challenging job of this festival.

There’s been a “competition” among the shrines. Each group tries to be the one to go the farthest and longest out to the sea.

After all the mikoshis are taken into the water, they are lined up and blessed by offering fruits and vegetables.

This festival is one of the most challenging photoshoots I’ve had. I got soaked and almost drop my camera into the water.

I would like to thank Levi for inviting and offering his place for us to stay overnight.