"sacred blessing"

#13587149

17 Apr 2026

MIYAJIMA, JAPAN - APRIL 15: The Chief Priest of Daisho-in Temple stands barefoot on smoldering embers while performing a blessing during the Hiwatari Shinji (Fire Walking Ceremony) on Miyajima Island, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan, on April 15, 2026. This climactic moment of the ancient Shugendo ritual demonstrates spiritual endurance and the power of purification through fire.

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#13587143

17 Apr 2026

MIYAJIMA, JAPAN - APRIL 15: A Yamabushi monk rakes smoldering cypress coals into a path during the Hiwatari Shinji (Fire Walking Ceremony) at Daisho-in Temple on Miyajima Island, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan, on April 15, 2026. This stage of the ancient Shugendo ritual involves flattening the remains of a sacred pyre to prepare the ground for the barefoot fire-walk.

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#13587144

17 Apr 2026

MIYAJIMA, JAPAN - APRIL 15: A Yamabushi monk rakes smoldering cypress coals into a path during the Hiwatari Shinji (Fire Walking Ceremony) at Daisho-in Temple on Miyajima Island, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan, on April 15, 2026. This stage of the ancient Shugendo ritual involves flattening the remains of a sacred pyre to prepare the ground for the barefoot fire-walk.

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#13587145

17 Apr 2026

MIYAJIMA, JAPAN - APRIL 15: A Yamabushi monk rakes smoldering cypress coals into a path during the Hiwatari Shinji (Fire Walking Ceremony) at Daisho-in Temple on Miyajima Island, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan, on April 15, 2026. This stage of the ancient Shugendo ritual involves flattening the remains of a sacred pyre to prepare the ground for the barefoot fire-walk.

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#13587146

17 Apr 2026

MIYAJIMA, JAPAN - APRIL 15: Yamabushi monks use wooden poles and cypress branches to level a path of smoldering embers during the Hiwatari Shinji (Fire Walking Ceremony) at Daisho-in Temple on Miyajima Island, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan, on April 15, 2026. This final preparation of the sacred fire pit is a vital step in the ancient Shugendo ritual, ensuring the ground is ready for practitioners and devotees to walk across barefoot.

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#13587150

17 Apr 2026

MIYAJIMA, JAPAN - APRIL 15: Yamabushi monks walk barefoot across smoldering cypress embers during the Hiwatari Shinji (Fire Walking Ceremony) at Daisho-in Temple on Miyajima Island, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan, on April 15, 2026. This ancient Shugendo ritual, held biannually in April and November, involves traversing the remains of a sacred pyre to pray for spiritual purification, good health, and the fulfillment of worldly desires.

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#13587147

17 Apr 2026

MIYAJIMA, JAPAN - APRIL 15: Yamabushi monks cast purifying salt over smoldering embers during the Hiwatari Shinji (Fire Walking Ceremony) at Daisho-in Temple on Miyajima Island, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan, on April 15, 2026. This final purification ritual, part of the ancient Shugendo tradition, is performed to cleanse the path and protect the participants before they walk barefoot across the hot cypress coals.

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#13587148

17 Apr 2026

MIYAJIMA, JAPAN - APRIL 15: The Chief Priest of Daisho-in Temple bows before taking the first barefoot steps across smoldering embers as Yamabushi monks blow conch shell trumpets during the Hiwatari Shinji (Fire Walking Ceremony) on Miyajima Island, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan, on April 15, 2026. This ancient Shugendo ritual involves traversing a bed of hot cypress coals to pray for spiritual purification, good health, and the fulfillment of worldly desires.

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#13587151

17 Apr 2026

MIYAJIMA, JAPAN - APRIL 15: A Yamabushi monk performs a ritual purification over smoldering embers during the Hiwatari Shinji (Fire Walking Ceremony) at Daisho-in Temple on Miyajima Island, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan, on April 15, 2026. This final Shugendo rite is performed to sanctify the path before hundreds of devotees follow the monks in walking barefoot across the hot cypress coals.

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#13587152

17 Apr 2026

MIYAJIMA, JAPAN - APRIL 15: Devotees and pilgrims walk barefoot through thick smoke and over smoldering embers during the Hiwatari Shinji (Fire Walking Ceremony) at Daisho-in Temple on Miyajima Island, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan, on April 15, 2026. After the ceremony is opened by Shugendo monks, hundreds of laypeople follow the path of hot cypress coals to pray for spiritual purification, good health, and protection from misfortune.

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#13587153

17 Apr 2026

MIYAJIMA, JAPAN - APRIL 15: Devotees and pilgrims walk barefoot through thick smoke and over smoldering embers during the Hiwatari Shinji (Fire Walking Ceremony) at Daisho-in Temple on Miyajima Island, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan, on April 15, 2026. After the ceremony is opened by Shugendo monks, hundreds of laypeople follow the path of hot cypress coals to pray for spiritual purification, good health, and protection from misfortune.

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#13587154

17 Apr 2026

MIYAJIMA, JAPAN - APRIL 15: Devotees and pilgrims walk barefoot through thick smoke and over smoldering embers during the Hiwatari Shinji (Fire Walking Ceremony) at Daisho-in Temple on Miyajima Island, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan, on April 15, 2026. After the ceremony is opened by Shugendo monks, hundreds of laypeople follow the path of hot cypress coals to pray for spiritual purification, good health, and protection from misfortune.

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#13587155

17 Apr 2026

MIYAJIMA, JAPAN - APRIL 15: Devotees and pilgrims walk barefoot through thick smoke and over smoldering embers during the Hiwatari Shinji (Fire Walking Ceremony) at Daisho-in Temple on Miyajima Island, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan, on April 15, 2026. After the ceremony is opened by Shugendo monks, hundreds of laypeople follow the path of hot cypress coals to pray for spiritual purification, good health, and protection from misfortune.

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#13587156

17 Apr 2026

MIYAJIMA, JAPAN - APRIL 15: Devotees and pilgrims walk barefoot through thick smoke and over smoldering embers during the Hiwatari Shinji (Fire Walking Ceremony) at Daisho-in Temple on Miyajima Island, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan, on April 15, 2026. After the ceremony is opened by Shugendo monks, hundreds of laypeople follow the path of hot cypress coals to pray for spiritual purification, good health, and protection from misfortune.

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#13587157

17 Apr 2026

MIYAJIMA, JAPAN - APRIL 15: Devotees and pilgrims walk barefoot through thick smoke and over smoldering embers during the Hiwatari Shinji (Fire Walking Ceremony) at Daisho-in Temple on Miyajima Island, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan, on April 15, 2026. After the ceremony is opened by Shugendo monks, hundreds of laypeople follow the path of hot cypress coals to pray for spiritual purification, good health, and protection from misfortune.

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#13587158

17 Apr 2026

MIYAJIMA, JAPAN - APRIL 15: Devotees and pilgrims walk barefoot through thick smoke and over smoldering embers during the Hiwatari Shinji (Fire Walking Ceremony) at Daisho-in Temple on Miyajima Island, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan, on April 15, 2026. After the ceremony is opened by Shugendo monks, hundreds of laypeople follow the path of hot cypress coals to pray for spiritual purification, good health, and protection from misfortune.

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