1-1-1 Konomiya, Inazawa 492-8137 Aichi Prefecture

1-33 Otsukaminami, Inazawa 492-8214 Aichi Prefecture

57-2 Minamigawara, Sobuecho, Inazawa 495-0001 Aichi Prefecture

Sobuecho Sobue, Inazawa 495-0001 Aichi Prefecture

11 Sobuecho Yamazaki, Inazawa 495-0002 Aichi Prefecture

1 Hishimachi, Inazawa 492-8161 Aichi Prefecture

295-3, Heiwacho Sukatani Nagata, Inazawa 490-1301 Aichi Prefecture

1-1-1 Konomiya Owari Okunitama Shrine, Inazawa 492-8137 Aichi Prefecture

Konomiya's Hadaka Matsuri is based on a traditional Shinto ritual, Owari Okunitama Shrine's Naoi Shinji, or "Dispelling of Misfortune Ritual." Held on January 13 on Japan's old lunar calendar, the festival sees thousands of men-particularly those at the critical ages of 42 and 25-descend upon the shrine clad only in bleached loincloths, or simply white tabi socks and nothing else. From among these crowds emerge holy men in white kimonos, and the struggle among the festivalgoers to be touched by the holy men and supposedly be spiritually cleansed can get quite fierce. The buckets of water carried by the men can give off steam from all the surrounding body heat, making for a stirring-yet quite feverish-sight.

365-8, Inazawacho Maeda, Inazawa Aichi Prefecture

1-33 Otsukaminami, Inazawa 492-8214 Aichi Prefecture

3-28 Otsuka Minami, Inazawa 492-8214 Aichi Prefecture