The Yutate Kagura at Jōnangū Shrine is a direct link to the Heian Period (794–1185), originating from a brutal ancient trial called kugatachi. In those days, individuals were forced to reach into boiling water to prove their innocence through divine judgment. Today, you’ll see this transformed into a prayer for health as a massive iron cauldron is filled with water from the shrine’s "Fushimizu" spring. This water is brought to a heavy boil over an open flame, a process intended to harness and manifest the raw, transformative energy of the deities.

The ceremony begins as Miko (shrine maidens) perform a sacred dance to invite the gods into the space. You'll see the head priestess stir sake, rice, and salt into the cauldron, creating a "sacred soup" that she then sprays over the crowd using large bamboo branches. The energy shifts the moment she plunges the leaves into the water and swings them with force, showering you with hot droplets and steam. Local tradition suggests that if you are hit by this spray, you will be shielded from illness and bad luck throughout 2026.

This specific ritual provided the visual inspiration for the bathhouse and the "Oshira-sama" (Radish Spirit) scenes in Hayao Miyazaki's Spirited Away. You are witnessing the real-world origin of that cinematic imagery, specifically the ritualistic use of steam and water to bridge the human and spirit worlds. Before you leave, you should pick up a fuku-zasa (lucky bamboo) charm made from the used branches. Hanging this in your home is the standard way to maintain the shrine’s protective influence long after the ceremony ends.