Hodaka Shrine

Hodaka Shrine is in Azumino City, central Nagano Prefecture. The shrine worships Mt. Hodakadake, Japan's third tallest mountain as a deity, and is nicknamed "the main shrine of the Japanese Alps".
The shrine's "Okumiya" (back shrine) is located in the Kamikochi region, and the Minemiya (summit shrine) at the summit of Mt. Hodakadake. The main shrine here is constructed in a building style called "Sanden style", which is composed by 3 shrine buildings placed horizontally in a row. The usage of white stone is a visible characteristic of the shrine, and are said to imitate the shapes of the Japanese Alps.
Every February 3rd is the Setsubun Festival (an annual festival in which beans are thrown to chase away evil). Whereas Setsubun in most of Japan uses the callout: "demons out, fortune in", Hodaka Shrine is unique in that the callout goes: "fortune in, demons in too". At Hodaka Shrine, demons is not considered to be evil, but instead to be God's messenger. The bean-throwing ceremony is held 4 times between 9:00 to 15;00 and many worshippers attend.