On April 2nd, the Yunoshima Benzaitengu Shrine (Asamushi, Aomori), a voluntary group in Asamushi, Aomori , cleaned up Yunoshima Benzaitengu Shrine (Asamushi, Aomori City) in preparation for the annual festival.

Yunoshima is a cone-shaped island with an altitude of 132 meters, about 800 meters offshore from the ferry terminal (Asamushi Hotarudani) near the roadside station Asamushi Onsen. Yunoshima Benzaiten has long been enshrined as the "god of the sea," and the red torii gate that can be seen from land is familiar as the "symbol of Asamushi."

The annual festival of the shrine had not been held since the 1950s, but in 2002, when the association was established, it was revived for the first time in more than 50 years, and has been held every year since.

On that day, 16 people, including members of the association and volunteers, gathered. From the same ferry terminal, they boarded small boats and crossed over to the island. The 96 steps leading to the main hall on the hillside of the island and the worship hall were covered with dead leaves. Participants swept dead leaves with brooms and rakes, and cleaned altars and ritual implements in the worship hall.

The association's chairman, Yoshihiro Nakamura, said, "We are preparing for the annual festival by purifying ourselves while thanking Yunoshima Benzaiten, who has been watching over Asamushi for a long time. There are days when we can't cross the island because of the storm. , We were blessed with fine weather today, and I'm glad that so many people were able to participate.

After cleaning up, the participants strolled along the mountain trails where the dogtooth violets, which are a seasonal feature of the island's spring season, were in full bloom, and took pictures of the scenery from the island, enjoying the time before the return trip.

The annual festival will be held on April 16th.