Small Countryside Temples and Shrines in Aridagawa

The small religious sites scattered across Aridagawa are distinct from Japan's famous urban temples. Most consist of a single structure enshrining a local deity, with doors kept closed out of respect and grounds maintained by the surrounding community rather than paid staff. Some have been active for over 500 years. Many sit within shady groves or on hillsides reached by unmarked approaches. Annual festivals are the liveliest times to visit, with mochi-throwing events common, where rice cakes are tossed from a raised platform into a crowd below as a gesture of good fortune.