(Flyer courtesy of Kabushima Jinja)

High on a rocky hill, Kabushima Jinja Shinto shrine with a 700-year history is said to bring visitors good fortune, especially in business, arts and sea traffic.

The place, about a 50-minute drive from Misawa Air Base, is auspicious and considered a power spot if you’re looking for some luck.

The upcoming Kabushima Matsuri festival on April 25 and 26 is the perfect opportunity to visit the shrine and enjoy live music and traditional Kagura sacred Shinto performances, along with dozens of food vendors.

The shrine is also famous for being the summer home of over 40,000 umineko black-tailed seagulls every February through August. During your visit you may notice umbrellas in front of the shrine. These are actually shields to protect visitors from bird splatterings. So, beware!

The festival is to welcome these seagulls who arrive during the season to build nests and lay eggs. The new generation of seagulls chirp to life in late May.

Kick off the spring season right and don’t miss a chance to see the temporary residents and also to enjoy the festivities.

(Photo by Takahiro Takiguchi/Stripes Japan)

(Photo by Takahiro Takiguchi/Stripes Japan)

(Photo by Takahiro Takiguchi/Stripes Japan)

Kabushima Matsuri (festival)

Note:

The coastal area of Hachinohe was devastated by the deadly Tsunami triggered by the 9.0 earthquake that shook the nation in 2011. Two days after the earthquake and tsunami, U.S. military members from nearby Misawa AB and beyond arrived to lend a hand as part of Operation Tomodachi.