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Giant "shimenawa" straw rope replacement at shrine

A 3-ton "shimenawa" sacred laid straw rope is replaced with a new one at Miyajidake shrine in Fukutsu in Fukuoka Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on Dec. 20, 2025, ahead of the New Year.

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Giant "shimenawa" straw rope replacement at shrine

A 3-ton "shimenawa" sacred laid straw rope is replaced with a new one at Miyajidake shrine in Fukutsu in Fukuoka Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on Dec. 20, 2025, ahead of the New Year.

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Giant "shimenawa" straw rope replacement at shrine

A 3-ton "shimenawa" sacred laid straw rope is replaced with a new one at Miyajidake shrine in Fukutsu in Fukuoka Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on Dec. 20, 2025, ahead of the New Year.

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Giant "shimenawa" straw rope replacement at shrine

A 3-ton "shimenawa" sacred laid straw rope is replaced with a new one at Miyajidake shrine in Fukutsu in Fukuoka Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on Dec. 20, 2025, ahead of the New Year.

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Sacred rope replaced at western Japan waterfall

NACHIKATSUURA, Japan, July 11 Kyodo - Shinto priests at Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine replace a large "shimenawa" sacred rope with a new one at a waterfall in Nachikatsuura in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on July 9, 2025, ahead of a festival at the nearby shrine, a World Heritage site. (Kyodo)

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Sacred rope replaced at western Japan waterfall

Shinto priests at Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine replace a large "shimenawa" sacred rope with a new one at a waterfall in Nachikatsuura in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on July 9, 2025, ahead of a festival at the nearby shrine, a World Heritage site.

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Sacred rope replaced at western Japan waterfall

Shinto priests at Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine replace a large "shimenawa" sacred rope with a new one at a waterfall in Nachikatsuura in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on July 9, 2025, ahead of a festival at the nearby shrine, a World Heritage site.

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Sacred rope replace at western Japan waterfall

Shinto priests at Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine replace a "shimenawa" sacred rope with a new one at a waterfall in Nachikatsuura in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on July 9, 2024, ahead of a festival.(Kyodo)

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Sacred rope replace at western Japan waterfall

Shinto priests at Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine replace a "shimenawa" sacred rope with a new one at a waterfall in Nachikatsuura in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on July 9, 2024, ahead of a festival.

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Sacred rope replace at western Japan waterfall

Shinto priests at Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine replace a "shimenawa" sacred rope with a new one at a waterfall in Nachikatsuura in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on July 9, 2024, ahead of a festival.

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Sacred rope exchange at western Japan waterfall

Shinto priests at Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine replace a large "shimenawa" sacred straw rope with a new one ahead of the New Year at a waterfall in Nachikatsuura, Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on Dec. 27, 2023.

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Sacred rope exchange at western Japan waterfall

Shinto priests at Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine replace a large "shimenawa" sacred straw rope with a new one ahead of the New Year at a waterfall in Nachikatsuura, Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on Dec. 27, 2023.

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New "shimenawa" straw rope for New Year

Visitors to Omiwa Shrine in Sakurai, Nara Prefecture, western Japan, replace a 400-kilogram "shimenawa," lengths of laid straw rope, with a new one ahead of the New Year.

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Sacred rope exchange event at western Japan waterfall

Shinto priests take part in an event to exchange a "shimenawa" sacred rope hanging over the top of Nachi waterfall in Nachikatsuura, Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on July 9, 2023, in preparation for an upcoming festival at nearby Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine.

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Sacred rope exchange event at western Japan waterfall

Shinto priests take part in an event to exchange a "shimenawa" sacred rope hanging over the top of Nachi waterfall in Nachikatsuura, Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on July 9, 2023, in preparation for an upcoming festival at nearby Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine.

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"Shimenawa" straw rope replaced at Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine

Shinto priests at Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine in Nachikatsuura, Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on Dec. 27, 2022, replace a large "shimenawa" straw rope with new one ahead of the New Year.

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"Shimenawa" rope replacement at western Japan shrine

A giant "shimenawa" sacred straw festoon is replaced at World Heritage-listed Kumano Hongu Taisha shrine in the western Japan city of Tanabe, Wakayama Prefecture, on Dec. 1, 2022, ahead of New Year.

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"Shimenawa" rope replacement at western Japan shrine

A giant "shimenawa" sacred straw festoon is replaced at World Heritage-listed Kumano Hongu Taisha shrine in the western Japan city of Tanabe, Wakayama Prefecture, on Dec. 1, 2022, ahead of New Year.

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"Shimenawa" straw rope replaced at Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine

Shinto priests at Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine in Nachikatsuura, Wakayama Prefecture, on July 9, 2022, replace a large "shimenawa" straw rope with new one ahead of a fire festival on July 14. A huge rock on the top of a 133-meter waterfall near the shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is wrapped with shimenawa, consisting of rice straw and white paper cut in strips and considered a barrier against evil spirits.

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"Shimenawa" straw rope replaced at Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine

Shinto priests at Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine in Nachikatsuura, Wakayama Prefecture, on July 9, 2022, replace a large "shimenawa" straw rope with new one ahead of a fire festival on July 14. A huge rock on the top of a 133-meter waterfall near the shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is wrapped with shimenawa, consisting of rice straw and white paper cut in strips and considered a barrier against evil spirits.

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Sacred rope exchange event at western Japan waterfall

Priests of World Heritage-listed Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine dressed in traditional attire take part in an event to exchange a "shimenawa" sacred rope hanging over the top of Nachi waterfall in Nachikatsuura, Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on Dec. 27, 2021, ahead of the New Year.

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Sacred rope exchange event at western Japan waterfall

Priests of World Heritage-listed Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine dressed in traditional attire take part in an event to exchange a "shimenawa" sacred rope hanging over the top of Nachi waterfall in Nachikatsuura, Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on Dec. 27, 2021, ahead of the New Year.

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Sacred rope exchange event at western Japan waterfall

Priests of World Heritage-listed Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine dressed in traditional attire take part in an event to exchange a "shimenawa" sacred rope hanging over the top of Nachi waterfall in Nachikatsuura, Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on Dec. 27, 2021, ahead of the New Year.

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Sacred rope exchange event at western Japan waterfall

Shrine priests dressed in traditional attire take part in an event to exchange a "shimenawa" sacred rope hanging over the top of Nachi waterfall in Nachikatsuura, Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on July 9, 2021. The event was held to prepare for an upcoming festival at nearby Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine.

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Sacred rope exchange event at western Japan waterfall

Shrine priests dressed in traditional attire take part in an event to exchange a "shimenawa" sacred rope hanging over the top of Nachi waterfall in Nachikatsuura, Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on July 9, 2021. The event was held to prepare for an upcoming festival at nearby Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine.

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Shinto rope over Nachi Waterfall

SHINGU, Japan - Shinto priests set up a ''shimenawa'' sacred rope at the top of the Nachi Waterfall in the town of Nachikatsuura, Wakayama Prefecture, on Oct. 19, 2011. The 133-meter-tall fall is maintained as a sacred site by the Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine and its rope is usually renewed twice a year in July and December, but the previous rope was swept away in early September when the area was hit by flooding triggered by Typhoon Talas, leading to the day's operation. (Kyodo)

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Playing battledore

This is a typical New Year scene. A shimenawa straw rope is hanging and girls are enjoying a game of battledore and shuttlecock while another girl is bouncing a ball. The girl on the right has her hair arranged in shimada-fuwarikarako style while the ones on the left and middle have theirs in marumage and warikarako-mage styles. This is a studio photograph.==Date:unknown, Place:unknown, Photo:unknown, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images) [Cabinet Number61‐9‐0]

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Girls holding battledores,and a decorative shimenawa

Girls holding battledores,and a decorative shimenawa==Date:unknown, Place:unknown, Photo:unknown, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images)

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Couple rocks at Ise Futamigaura

Fufuiwa (man and wife rock) is located in Futami-cho of Watarai-gun of Mie prefecture. The larger rock is a height of 9 m and a circumference of 44 m. The smaller rock has 4 m in height, and 10 m circumference. A great Shimenawa (rope decoration) connects the two, and is a symbol of harmonious man and wife and forming nuptial ties.==Date:unknown, Place:Mie, Photo:unknown, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images) [Cabinet Number46‐138‐0]

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Girls playing a game with birdies

New Year's games of girls. Two girls play springboard with the battledore, and a girl bounces a ball. In the rear, Shimenawa (sacred ropes) decorations can be seen. The English title is Girls New Year.==Date:unknown, Place:unknown, Photo:Kusakabe Kinbei, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images) [Cabinet Number40‐49‐0]

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Shop of simekazari,sacred festoon decoration

The shimenawa is a rope to indicate the holiness of a place, and rope made of hay is twisted leftwards. This is placed in small Shinto altars within the house and also around the house on New Year's to indicate the presence of toshigami (deity welcomed to the household on New Year's for happiness throughout the year). The rope wreath is a simplified version, and is displayed at the gate and entrance of the residence.==Date:unknown, Place:unknown, Photo:unknown, (Credit:Nagasaki University Library/Kyodo News Images) [Cabinet Number18‐42‐0]

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"Shimenawa" straw rope replaced at Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine

Shinto shrine priests at Kumano Nachi Taisha in Wakayama Prefecture on Dec. 27, 2017 replace a large "shimenawa" straw rope with new one ahead of New Year. A huge rock on the top of a 133-meter waterfall near the shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is wrapped with shimenawa, consisting of rice straw and white paper cut in strips and considered a barrier against evil spirits. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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"Shimenawa" straw rope replaced at Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine

Shinto shrine priests at Kumano Nachi Taisha in Wakayama Prefecture on Dec. 27, 2017 replace a large "shimenawa" straw rope with new one ahead of New Year. A huge rock on the top of a 133-meter waterfall near the shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is wrapped with shimenawa, consisting of rice straw and white paper cut in strips and considered a barrier against evil spirits. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Sacred rope exchange event at western Japan waterfall

Shinto priests dressed in traditional costumes take part in an event to exchange a "shimenawa" sacred rope hanging over the top of Nachi waterfall in Nachikatsuura, Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on July 13, 2020. The event was held to prepare for an upcoming festival at nearby Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine.

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Sacred rope exchange event at western Japan waterfall

Shinto priests dressed in traditional costumes take part in an event to exchange a "shimenawa" sacred rope hanging over the top of Nachi waterfall in Nachikatsuura, Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on July 13, 2020. The event was held to prepare for an upcoming festival at nearby Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine.

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Shimenawa rope replacement at western Japan shrine

A giant "shimenawa" sacred straw festoon is replaced at World Heritage-listed Kumano Hongu Taisha shrine in the western Japan city of Tanabe, Wakayama Prefecture, on Dec. 16, 2019, ahead of New Year. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Shimenawa rope replacement at western Japan shrine

A giant "shimenawa" sacred straw festoon is replaced at World Heritage-listed Kumano Hongu Taisha shrine in the western Japan city of Tanabe, Wakayama Prefecture, on Dec. 16, 2019, ahead of New Year. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo