Kishira Beach

Kishira Beach has white sandy shores perfect for hosting sea turtle nests, favorite summer pastimes, and even religious festivals. Every year, a festival called Nagoshidon is held in Kishira on August 14th. Three sacred masks enshrining deities are carried from Hirata Shrine on tall poles and then set up on the beach with offerings. Traditional dances dating back roughly 600 years are performed, including a spear dance and masked archer dance, in order to purify the community and pray for blessings for the rest of the year. With the vast Pacific as a backdrop, this is a distinctly Kishira version of the summer purification rituals that take place at many shrines around Japan.

To learn more, visit the official Nagoshidon website.

Open to the public.