This is a local mikoshi or portable shrine. It lives in a big shed down the road, and around festival time they open the shed for viewing.

I’m pretty sure I saw posters up saying that this year’s festival is cancelled. This is a shame because that means that the local gods don’t get to go walkabout in their portable shrine this year. It’s also a shame because some people love the sense of community & camaraderie that these festivals bring, as local people get together to carry the shrine on their shoulders down to the ocean & drink a lot on the way.

On the other hand, I’m feeling guiltily happy because this particular festival goes through the whole night and I typically get awoken at 3am unless I have had the foresight to take a trip out of town.