Pillars of flames rise haughtily in the winter cold as night falls. The fire festival of Toba annually takes place on the second Sunday of February, at Toba Shinmei shrine. The sight of men jumping into the burning “Suzumi” (the torches), in order to take the holy tree and the 12 ropes, is simply breathtaking. It is a festival of pride and tradition.

Hazu-Kannon, known as the temple for the prevention of apoplexy, is also called “Kabocha-Dera”(the pumpkin temple). Japanese pumpkin soup is served to the visitors on winter solstice every year, made from the pumpkins donated from across the country. One can also have the full “pumpkin” course meal while enjoying the view of the temple gardens (1500yen).

A Kannon erected in 1972, for the repose of the dead spirits of the soldiers and civilians who died in the Phillipines during the Pacific War.

Situated on the top of Mt Sangane, this Kannon is known as the Goddess of prosperity and success. A statue of the holy Kannon Bodhisattva, carved by a monk in the Nara period, is enshrined inside the temple. It has been a place of ascetic practices for the esoteric Buddhists for approximately 1200 years.

It is a mystery when and who established the castle, but it is said that the Ogasawara clan took the castle from Saburo Hayakawa in 1514 and stayed until 1590. It is a castle built on a small hill overlooking the sea. Today we can see the sites of the inner citadel and the moat.

Blessed with nature, Hazu also has a long cultural history. In this museum, many historical documents, tools and costumes, unfolding the mysteries of ancient religion and industry in Hazu, are collected, preserved and displayed.