A spectacular and unique festival that you'll find nowhere else in Japan

This event is a traditional ceremony that has been held for over 1,000 years at Isakiji-temple, and the heroic sight of monks jumping into the lake leaves spectators in awe.

Specifically, this is a unique Buddhist ascetic practice performed at the temple situated on a cliff overlooking Lake Biwa, the country's largest lake.  A ritual you'll find nowhere else in Japan. 

This unique ritual takes place every year on August 1st at Isakiji-temple located in Ohmi-Hachiman City, Shiga Prefecture, Japan.   As a matter of fact, I saw this ascetic practice two years ago, but I just took a quick look from the side of the temple on the cliff.　However, this year I fortunately won the lottery to determine who would ride on a fishing boat, so I was able to see the moment the ascetic monks jumped into the lake up close.

An ascetic monk jumping from the tip of a beam 7 meters above the surface of the lake.

A thick wooden beam, approximately 14 meters long, projected horizontally into Lake Biwa. 

This is a small temple built over a cliff called "Sao-tobi-do". Many people have gathered there to watch the moment of jumping. The main temple and other facilities exist in the back.

A priest wearing the distinctive clothing known as “yamabushi” leads the monks who will be jumping this time. Yamabushi blows an instrument made from a conch shell held in the right hand to communicate or signal each other while in the mountains.

Before jumping in, the high priest purifies the beam with the sacred water. Standing in the back are the 12 monks gathered from all over the country who will be jumping this time. They have already completed 100 days of severe Buddhist training on Mount Hiei where the head temple of this religion locates.

The monk cautiously moves toward the tip of the beam.

He made up his mind and jumped in.

A huge splash went up. Afterward, he swam back to the cliff and climbed up by holding onto the rope.

Another monk is jumping into the Lake.

They are watching the moment taking a ride on a fishing boat provided by the local fishermen's association. A total of three fishing boats were prepared, and I went aboard another fishing boat. 

Many people took a sightseeing boat chartered by a travel agency.　Some people even came by sailboat.

Some people arrived on SUPs. They even bring their dogs along.

If you can ride a SUP, this is the easiest way, no charge or whenever you'd like to come.

To elaborate further, many members of the press attended on that day, and the event was covered in newspapers, on television, and elsewhere.