Yahiko Yukake Festival is an auspicious occasion, where healing hot spring waters are carried down in barrels from a sacred mountain water source that looks over the village. The barrels are loaded onto a (dashi) float car that is pulled through the village to the shrine by the vigorous, while the healing waters are poured, sprayed, tossed onto all who bear witness. These waters are said to clean away all negativities bringing health and prosperity; myself and camera gear were well blessed! Yahiko is one of the friendliest destinations on my Photo Tour Japan itineraries, it also happens to be the first inhabited part of Japan, that power point place to experience a life-transforming, soul nourishing purification.