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Rite at Ise Jingu shrine in Mie Pref.

ISE, Japan, Sept. 17 Kyodo - Priests attend a tree-felling ceremony at Ise Jingu shrine in Ise, Mie Prefecture, on Sept. 17, 2025, as part of rites for the "Shikinen Sengu" shrine building reconstruction every 20 years at the Shinto shrine in the central Japan city. Over 30 rites are planned for the 63rd "Shikinen Sengu," with a history of about 1,300 years, which will culminate in 2033 when an object believed to contain the spirit of the shrine's deity will be transferred to the shrine's newly reconstructed main hall. (Kyodo)

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Rite at Ise Jingu shrine in Mie Pref.

Priests attend a tree-felling ceremony at Ise Jingu shrine in Ise, Mie Prefecture, on Sept. 17, 2025, as part of rites for the "Shikinen Sengu" shrine building reconstruction every 20 years at the Shinto shrine in the central Japan city. Over 30 rites are planned for the 63rd "Shikinen Sengu," with a history of about 1,300 years, which will culminate in 2033 when an object believed to contain the spirit of the shrine's deity will be transferred to the shrine's newly reconstructed main hall.

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Rite at Ise Jingu shrine in Mie Pref.

Priests attend a tree-felling ceremony at Ise Jingu shrine in Ise, Mie Prefecture, on Sept. 17, 2025, as part of rites for the "Shikinen Sengu" shrine building reconstruction every 20 years at the Shinto shrine in the central Japan city. Over 30 rites are planned for the 63rd "Shikinen Sengu," with a history of about 1,300 years, which will culminate in 2033 when an object believed to contain the spirit of the shrine's deity will be transferred to the shrine's newly reconstructed main hall.

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Rite at Ise Jingu shrine in Mie Pref.

Priests attend a tree-felling ceremony at Ise Jingu shrine in Ise, Mie Prefecture, on Sept. 17, 2025, as part of rites for the "Shikinen Sengu" shrine building reconstruction every 20 years at the Shinto shrine in the central Japan city. Over 30 rites are planned for the 63rd "Shikinen Sengu," with a history of about 1,300 years, which will culminate in 2033 when an object believed to contain the spirit of the shrine's deity will be transferred to the shrine's newly reconstructed main hall.

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Rite at Ise Jingu shrine in Mie Pref.

Priests attend a tree-felling ceremony at Ise Jingu shrine in Ise, Mie Prefecture, on Sept. 17, 2025, as part of rites for the "Shikinen Sengu" shrine building reconstruction every 20 years at the Shinto shrine in the central Japan city. Over 30 rites are planned for the 63rd "Shikinen Sengu," with a history of about 1,300 years, which will culminate in 2033 when an object believed to contain the spirit of the shrine's deity will be transferred to the shrine's newly reconstructed main hall.

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Rite at Ise Jingu shrine in Mie Pref.

Priests attend a tree-felling ceremony at Ise Jingu shrine in Ise, Mie Prefecture, on Sept. 17, 2025, as part of rites for the "Shikinen Sengu" shrine building reconstruction every 20 years at the Shinto shrine in the central Japan city. Over 30 rites are planned for the 63rd "Shikinen Sengu," with a history of about 1,300 years, which will culminate in 2033 when an object believed to contain the spirit of the shrine's deity will be transferred to the shrine's newly reconstructed main hall.

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Rite at Ise Jingu shrine in Mie Pref.

Priests attend a tree-felling ceremony at Ise Jingu shrine in Ise, Mie Prefecture, on Sept. 17, 2025, as part of rites for the "Shikinen Sengu" shrine building reconstruction every 20 years at the Shinto shrine in the central Japan city. Over 30 rites are planned for the 63rd "Shikinen Sengu," with a history of about 1,300 years, which will culminate in 2033 when an object believed to contain the spirit of the shrine's deity will be transferred to the shrine's newly reconstructed main hall.

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Rite at Ise Jingu shrine in Mie Pref.

Priests attend a tree-felling ceremony at Ise Jingu shrine in Ise, Mie Prefecture, on Sept. 17, 2025, as part of rites for the "Shikinen Sengu" shrine building reconstruction every 20 years at the Shinto shrine in the central Japan city. Over 30 rites are planned for the 63rd "Shikinen Sengu," with a history of about 1,300 years, which will culminate in 2033 when an object believed to contain the spirit of the shrine's deity will be transferred to the shrine's newly reconstructed main hall.

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Rite at Ise Jingu shrine in Mie Pref.

Priests attend a tree-felling ceremony at Ise Jingu shrine in Ise, Mie Prefecture, on Sept. 17, 2025, as part of rites for the "Shikinen Sengu" shrine building reconstruction every 20 years at the Shinto shrine in the central Japan city. Over 30 rites are planned for the 63rd "Shikinen Sengu," with a history of about 1,300 years, which will culminate in 2033 when an object believed to contain the spirit of the shrine's deity will be transferred to the shrine's newly reconstructed main hall.

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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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Rite at Ise Jingu shrine in Mie Pref.

Priests transport a "sacred" tree in Ise, Mie Prefecture, on June 10, 2025, for use at Ise Jingu shrine in the "Shikinen Sengu" shrine reconstruction carried out every 20 years at the Shinto shrine in the central Japan city. Over 30 rites are planned for the 63rd "Shikinen Sengu" dating about 1,300 years, which will culminate in 2033 when an object believed to contain the spirit of the shrine's deity will be transferred to the shrine's newly reconstructed main hall.

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Rite at Ise Jingu shrine in Mie Pref.

Priests transport a "sacred" tree in Ise, Mie Prefecture, on June 10, 2025, for use at Ise Jingu shrine in the "Shikinen Sengu" shrine reconstruction carried out every 20 years at the Shinto shrine in the central Japan city. Over 30 rites are planned for the 63rd "Shikinen Sengu" dating about 1,300 years, which will culminate in 2033 when an object believed to contain the spirit of the shrine's deity will be transferred to the shrine's newly reconstructed main hall.

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Rite at Ise Jingu shrine in Mie Pref.

Priests transport a "sacred" tree in Ise, Mie Prefecture, on June 10, 2025, for use at Ise Jingu shrine in the "Shikinen Sengu" shrine reconstruction carried out every 20 years at the Shinto shrine in the central Japan city. Over 30 rites are planned for the 63rd "Shikinen Sengu" dating about 1,300 years, which will culminate in 2033 when an object believed to contain the spirit of the shrine's deity will be transferred to the shrine's newly reconstructed main hall.

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Rite at Ise Jingu shrine in Mie Pref.

ISE, Japan, June 10 Kyodo - Priests purify sacred trees at Ise Jingu shrine in Ise, Mie Prefecture, on June 9, 2025, as part of rites for the "Shikinen Sengu" shrine building reconstruction every 20 years at the Shinto shrine in the central Japan city. Over 30 rites are planned for the 63rd "Shikinen Sengu," which will culminate in 2033 when an object believed to contain the spirit of the shrine's deity will be transferred to the shrine's newly reconstructed main hall. The reconstruction rites have a history of about 1,300 years. (Kyodo)

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Rite at Ise Jingu shrine in Mie Pref.

Priests purify sacred trees at Ise Jingu shrine in Ise, Mie Prefecture, on June 9, 2025, as part of rites for the "Shikinen Sengu" shrine building reconstruction every 20 years at the Shinto shrine in the central Japan city. Over 30 rites are planned for the 63rd "Shikinen Sengu," which will culminate in 2033 when an object believed to contain the spirit of the shrine's deity will be transferred to the shrine's newly reconstructed main hall. The reconstruction rites have a history of about 1,300 years.

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Rite at Ise Jingu shrine in Mie Pref.

Priests purify a sacred tree at Ise Jingu shrine in Ise, Mie Prefecture, on June 9, 2025, as part of rites for the "Shikinen Sengu" shrine building reconstruction every 20 years at the Shinto shrine in the central Japan city. Over 30 rites are planned for the 63rd "Shikinen Sengu," which will culminate in 2033 when an object believed to contain the spirit of the shrine's deity will be transferred to the shrine's newly reconstructed main hall. The reconstruction rites have a history of about 1,300 years.

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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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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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Fuso-kyo grassroots Shinto priests perform fire ritual

TOKYO, Japan - Priests of Fuso-kyo, a Japanese grassroots Shinto sect based on the worship of Mt. Fuji, perform a fire ritual at its shrine in Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi Prefecture, central Japan, as seen in this file photo taken on June 3, 2014.

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Priests of different faiths forming groups across Japan

TOKYO, Japan - Photo taken April 22, 2014, shows priests of Buddhism, Shinto, Christianity and other religions gathering for a regular meeting of their group at Ikegami Honmonji, a Buddhism temple of the Nichiren sect, in Tokyo's Ota Ward.

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Ise Shrine

ISE, Japan - The shrine deity, protected with silk cloth, is carried by Shinto priests to a new building at the Geku (Outer Shrine) complex of Ise Grand Shrine in Ise, Mie Prefecture, on Oct. 5, 2013. The ceremony is part of the shrine's Shikinen Sengu ceremonies that are held when moving from old to new buildings, which take place once every 20 years. (Pool photo by Kyodo News)

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Shikinen Sengu ceremonies at Ise Shrine

ISE, Japan - The shrine deity, protected with silk cloth, is carried by Shinto priests to a new building at the Geku (Outer Shrine) complex of Ise Grand Shrine in Ise, Mie Prefecture, on Oct. 5, 2013. The ceremony is part of the shrine's Shikinen Sengu ceremonies that are held when moving from old to new buildings, which take place once every 20 years. (Pool photo)

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Shikinen Sengu ceremonies at Ise Shrine

ISE, Japan - The shrine deity, protected with silk cloth, is carried by Shinto priests to a new building at the Geku (Outer Shrine) complex of Ise Grand Shrine in Ise, Mie Prefecture, on Oct. 5, 2013. The ceremony is part of the shrine's Shikinen Sengu ceremonies that are held when moving from old to new buildings, which take place once every 20 years. (Pool photo)

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Shikinen Sengu ceremonies at Ise Shrine

ISE, Japan - The shrine deity, protected with silk cloth, is carried by Shinto priests to a new building at the Geku (Outer Shrine) complex of Ise Grand Shrine in Ise, Mie Prefecture, on Oct. 5, 2013. The ceremony is part of the shrine's Shikinen Sengu ceremonies that are held when moving from old to new buildings, which take place once every 20 years. (Pool photo by Kyodo News)

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Ise Shrine

ISE, Japan - Shinto priests head to a ceremony at the Geku (Outer Shrine) complex of the Ise Grand Shrine in Ise, Mie Prefecture, on Oct. 5, 2013, to transfer the symbol of the deity to a new building. The ceremony is the climax of the shrine's Shikinen Sengu ceremonies that are held when moving from old to new buildings, which take place once every 20 years.

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Ise Shrine

ISE, Japan - Shinto priests head to a ceremony at the Geku (Outer Shrine) complex of the Ise Grand Shrine in Ise, Mie Prefecture, on Oct. 5, 2013, to transfer the symbol of the deity to a new building. The ceremony is the climax of the shrine's Shikinen Sengu ceremonies that are held when moving from old to new buildings, which take place once every 20 years.

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Shikinen Sengu ceremonies at Ise Shrine

ISE, Japan - The shrine deity, protected with silk cloth, is carried by Shinto priests to a new building at the Naiku complex of Ise Grand Shrine in Ise, Mie Prefecture, on Oct. 2, 2013. The ceremony is the climax of the shrine's Shikinen Sengu ceremonies that are held when moving from old to new buildings, which take place once every 20 years. (Pool photo)

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Shikinen Sengu ceremonies at Ise Shrine

ISE, Japan - Shinto priests head for a ceremony at the Naiku complex of Ise Grand Shrine in Ise, Mie Prefecture, on Oct. 2, 2013, to transfer the symbol of the deity to a new building. The ceremony is the climax of the shrine's Shikinen Sengu ceremonies that are held when moving from old to new buildings, which take place once every 20 years.

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Shikinen Sengu ceremonies at Ise Shrine

ISE, Japan - The shrine deity, protected with silk cloth, is carried by Shinto priests to a new building at the Naiku complex of Ise Grand Shrine in Ise, Mie Prefecture, on Oct. 2, 2013. The ceremony is the climax of the shrine's Shikinen Sengu ceremonies that are held when moving from old to new buildings, which take place once every 20 years. (Pool photo by Kyodo News)

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Shikinen Sengu ceremonies at Ise Shrine

ISE, Japan - Shinto priests head for a ceremony at the Naiku complex of Ise Grand Shrine in Ise, Mie Prefecture, on Oct. 2, 2013, to transfer the symbol of the deity to a new building. The ceremony is the climax of the shrine's Shikinen Sengu ceremonies that are held when moving from old to new buildings, which take place once every 20 years.

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Special ceremony at Izumo Taisha

IZUMO, Japan - The shrine deity, protected with silk cloth, is carried by priests to the main hall at Izumo Taisha in Izumo, Shimane Prefecture, on May 10, 2013, in a special ceremony called Honden Senza Sai. The ceremony was held for the first time in 60 years at the Shinto shrine, one of the most important in Japan, after the completion of renovations to the main hall, a national treasure.

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Special ceremony at Izumo Taisha

IZUMO, Japan - The shrine deity, protected with silk cloth, is carried by priests to the main hall at Izumo Taisha in Izumo, Shimane Prefecture, on May 10, 2013, in a special ceremony called Honden Senza Sai. The ceremony was held for the first time in 60 years at the Shinto shrine, one of the most important in Japan, after the completion of renovations to the main hall, a national treasure.

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Buddhist, Shinto joint service for disaster victims

KAMAKURA, Japan - A Buddhist priest (L) conducts a ritual for the victims of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami at a memorial service held jointly by Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shinto shrine and Todaiji Buddhist temple in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, on June 12, 2011. On the right are Shinto priests taking part in the rite.

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Interfaith gathering after disaster

KAMAKURA, Japan - Shinto priests and Buddhist monks walk to a beach while soliciting donations for quake and tsunami relief from the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu shrine in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, on April 11, 2011, a month after the historic earthquake and tsunami disaster. They gathered at the shrine the same day to pray for victims of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami and recovery from the disaster.

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Prayers for quake-hit country

NARA, Japan - Shinto priests and visitors offer prayers for the safety of those affected in the massive March 11 earthquake and tsunami, and the country's recovery at Kasuga Taisha shrine in Nara, western Japan, on March 16, 2011.

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Former Prime Minister Koizumi visits Yasukuni Shrine

TOKYO, Japan - Former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi bows to Shinto priests of Yasukuni Shrine after paying a visit to the Shinto shrine dedicated to the war-dead on Aug. 15, the 63rd anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II.

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Deities restored to quake-reinforced Imperial Palace shrines

TOKYO, Japan - Shinto priests and employees of the Imperial Household Agency dressed in Shinto costumes carry the deities of the imperial family back to the three earthquake-reinforced shrines from a makeshift shrine inside the Imperial Palace on March 25. The deities, in the form of sacred objects where the spirits of deities dwell, had been temporarily housed at the makeshift shrine during earthquake-reinforcement work at the imperial shrines. The shrines, built in 1888, are used by the emperor and empress and members of the imperial family in various imperial rites. (Pool photo)

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Dalai Lama attends international religious forum at Ise

ISE, Japan - The Dalai Lama, Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, speaks at a news conference on Nov. 17 at Kogakkan University in Ise, Mie Prefecture, where he is attending an inaugural meeting of the Ise international religious forum created by academics at the university, Shinto priests and Buddhist monks. The Dalai Lama says his life mission is to seek harmony among various religions. He is scheduled to deliver an address on ''religion and harmony'' at Kogakkan University on Nov. 18.

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Priests prepare ground for empress dowager's mausoleum

TOKYO, Japan - Shinto priests pray June 26 for the safety and security of the planned tomb for the late Empress Dowager Nagako, in a ritual at the Musashino Imperial Mausoleum in the western suburbs of Tokyo. The tomb is to take a year to construct and will be located near that of her husband, the late Emperor Hirohito, posthumously called Emperor Showa. The empress dowager died June 16 at the age of 97.

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Priests prepare 'Yamagasa' float for Fukuoka G-7 meeting

FUKUOKA, Japan - Shinto priests on June 26 bless a special ''Yamagasa'' float built for next month's meeting of top finance officials from the Group of Seven (G-7) nations in Fukuoka. The blessing of the 12-meter-tall float, which features figures from the history of Fukuoka Prefecture, was conducted at the Fukuoka City Museum, where the G-7 meeting will take place July 8, ahead of the Group of Eight (G-8) summit in Okinawa Prefecture.

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Shinto priests prepare for New Year's Day

Shinto priests replace straw-and-paper decorations with new ones at the top of the 133-meter-high Nachi Falls at Katsuura in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan on Dec. 27 to prepare for New Year's Day. The falls of the Kumano Nachi Shrine are in the Yoshino-Kumano National Park.

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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.