kushiinada

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Main Hall (Honden) of Yasaka Shrine in Kyoto, Japan. Royalty Free Stock Photo

This is the Shinto priest-purification shelter(Saikan) and the noh stage used for Karuta card game festival every year. On the 3rd of January, women dressed in Juni-hitoe (Heian period costume) play this old card game. Karuta was introduced to Japan by Portuguese merchants in the 16th century, and became popular between the end of 17th and the end of the 19th century. Today in Japan the game is played by about one million people: it can be played by several people together, or one-versus-one, and it is popular among families during the New Year's holidays.