Hari-Kuyō is a Japanese festival that was created around 400 years ago for needle-workers and housekeepers to pray for improved skills, and to show respect for the tools used in their practice. On December 8th in the Kansai region, and February 8th in the Kanto region, women bring sewing needles and pins that were broken from being used during the past year, and in more recent years, the shrines and temples will have a large block of tofu to place the sewing needles and pins into before prayer.
*These photos were taken at Egaraten Shrine in Kamakura.
Where: Egaraten Shrine 74 Nikaidō, Kamakura, Kanagawa 248-0002
When: February 8th
How much: Free
Website (Japanese): http://www.tenjinsha.com/
The block of tofu is put out in front of the shrine entrance. You place the sewing needles and pins into the block of tofu, put your donation into the donation box and pray.
This event takes place during the beginning of plum blossom season, so you can see a few of them starting to bloom on either side of the entrance to the shrine.
There are special prayers that take place inside of the shrine from 10:30 to 16:00 and the entrance fee is 3000 JPY.
a very unique festival!