The Fire Festival

"One of Japan’s Top Three Fire Festivals, this intense event is held every year on January 15th. The 42 and 25 year old men of the village take on special roles. A massive tower is erected as a petition for the health and growth of first born sons. At night, villagers rush at the tower with torches. The 25 year olds fight them off at the base and the 42 year olds protect the top. The event climaxes in a massive bonfire as the tower succumbs to the flames. The festival’s power and energy have to be seen to be believed." http://www.go-nagano.net/modules/contents07/index.php?id=1&mode=disdetailsisetu&cityid=109&junleid=13&indexid=2&kubuncode=7 The girls and I on top of a snow hills in the McDonald's parking lot.  Japan LOVES McDonald's! The cute little village of Nozawa Onsen A foot onset. A small portion of our group! This is the bottom an entry way to a shrine.  The snow was about 8 feet high.  It had been snowing EVERY DAY there since Christmas and this was January 13th! The people mover to the slopes. The kids were so cute in their snowsuits! The ski lesson that I should have had!  Maybe I wouldn't have rolled down the mountain if I'd known what I was doing! If you look closely you'll see that the girl's hands are covered with duct tape and plastic They are building the structure to set on fire that night.