What is Inazawa City??

ÅyGreen city InazawaÅz
Inazawa prospered as a leading granary in Japan because of the fertile soil and the warm climate which were assisted by the Kiso River, Nagara River and Ibi River. The soil and the climate also suited the growth of trees and developed the city's greenery industry. There are historic sites and parks which have many trees and flowers in this city. That is a reason why Inazawa is called "green city".

ÅöShokaiji Temple
Shokaiji Temple has some Nationally Important Cultural Assets, such as "Tahoto" and "Honden". The temple has the other name of "Hydrangea Temple" and a lot of hydrangeas bloom in the rainy season when the"Hydrangea Festival" takes place.

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These are hydrangeas in Shokaiji Temple.

ÅöInazawa Park
Inazawa Park is the largest in the city. Red Sasanguas are planted throughout the park. It is a symbol flower of Inazawa. There is the Oguiss Memorial Art Museum there.

ÅöJiganji Temple
The precinct of the Jiganji Temple is covered with moss as if it were a carpet. We can also see Dodan Azaleas in spring. There is the Cultural Center near the temple.

ÅöAnrakuji Temple
Anrakuji Temple is a one of the main places to see cherry blossoms. The tunnel of cherry blossoms appears when a row of cherry blossoms bloom on both sides of the approach to the temple.

ÅöEnkoji Temple
Enkoji Temple is located near Anrakuji Temple. About 200 stumps of the bush clover are planted there and bloom in the fall.

ÅyInazawa city's greeneryÅz
Inazawa is known as the city of greenery. The greenery history of the city dates from the Kamakura period. The start was that a priest of Zen Buddhism whose name is Haku An told the way of grafting which he had learned in China. Now, Inazawa has 4 markets of greenery which hold sales from 3 to 6 times in a month. Brokers and retailers come to Inazawa from as far away as Fukuoka or Niigata because Inazawa has many kinds of seedlings. Inazawa was the setting for "Niwashi Sachan" which was a drama series broadcasted by NHK in 1998. This drama showed a woman trying to be a gardener. The Garden Plant Center holds some courses to teach technique to young people.

ÅyStrange festibal, "Hadaka Matsuri" of Konomiya ShrineÅz
"Hadaka Matsuri" is a famous festival in Inazawa. It was started about 1230 years ago. It is correctly called "Naoi Shinji". Its origin is as a ceremony for exorcism. There are various ceremonies before and after it which take place on January 13th of the lunar calender.

(January of the lunar calender)
2nd 9:00am Shimebashira-tate-shiki
.......10:00am Shin-otoko Selection Ceremony

7th Kneading of the Okagami-Mochi
10th Shin-otoko Sanro
12th Offering of the Okagami-Mochi
13th 5:00pm Naoi Shinji
14th 3:00am Yonaoi Shinji
....... 8:00am Cutting of the Okagami-Mochi

The climax of Hadaka Matsuri is Naoi Shinji. "Naoi" means a demon. The day when Naoi Shinji takes place is from February to March of the solar calender. It is the coldest time but on the day, many naked men who wear only a loincloth and tabis gather at Konomiya Shrine. In spite of the cold, steam rises from them because they strike each other violently. When all the naked men have gathered, "Shin-otoko" dives into the middle of them. Shin-otoko is a man who retired in the "Naoi Hall" for three days before Naoi Shinji and was cut off from the world in order to remove his sins and purify his body. He removes other people's evil. Naked men dash to him bacause it is said that by touching him they can remove their evil. The old and women who can't be a naked man tie a cloth of "Naoi Gire" on which is written their name and age to a bamboo. The bamboo which is called "Naoi Zasa" is carried by the naked men. They pray instead of the other people.

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These two pictures are Konomiya Shrine. Many people gather there when the Hadaka Matsuri is taking place.
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