Visit Nara

Just as the weather heats up, the priests at World Heritage temple Toshodaiji hold a ceremony where they distribute heart-shaped paper fans to the masses. They don’t just pass them out, but cast them by the hundreds from the veranda of a thirteenth century temple building. Traditionally this is said to bring protection against calamity; other legends say the fans originated with the temple founder’s enforcement of the Buddhist precept of non-harming, urging his monks to use such fans to keep mosquitoes away. The festival is held annually on May 19.