Lonely Planet Author, Ray Bartlett experiences one of Japan's most spiritual ceremonies, the Nachi Fire festival. Dating back almost 1700 years this cleansing ritual is a symbol of burning away the sins and mistakes of the past year. For even an agnostic like Ray, this spiritual festival left him feeling humbled, introspective and in awe.
Traditional performers play drums on a stage with a snow sculpture representing Japan's bid for 2016 summer Olympic Games at the snow festival in Sapporo, northern Japan, February 5, 2009
Japan's Self-defense force army soldiers clear snow on a snow sculputure celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Tokyo Disney Resort at the snow festival in Sapporo, northern Japan, February 5, 2009.
A couple from Hong Kong take their wedding picture, as an assistant looks on, at the snow festival in Sapporo, northern Japan, February 5, 2009. The 60th Sapporo snow festival opened on February 5 and goes on till February 11.
A model displays gold thread made wedding dresses, and tiaras designed by Japanese designer Yumi Katsura, priced 30 million Japanese Yen in Tokyo Feb. 4, 2009.
A model displays gold thread made wedding dresses and tiaras designed by Japanese designer Yumi Katsura, and priced 70 million Japanese Yen in Tokyo Feb. 4, 2009.
A model displays gold thread made wedding dresses, designed by Japanese designer Yumi Katsura and tiaras, and priced 30 million Japanese Yen in Tokyo, Japan, Feb. 4, 2009.
A 20-year-old girl stands on a portable shrine carried by people along the seashore during a purification ceremony at the Katase-Enoshima beach in Fujisawa of Kanagawa prefecture Jan. 18, 2009. The annual ceremony celebrates the coming-of-age for young people.
A 20-year-old girl stands on a portable shrine carried by people along the seashore during a purification ceremony at the Katase-Enoshima beach in Fujisawa of Kanagawa prefecture Jan. 18, 2009. The annual ceremony celebrates the coming-of-age for young people.
A 20-year-old girl stands on a portable shrine carried by people along the seashore during a purification ceremony at the Katase-Enoshima beach in Fujisawa of Kanagawa prefecture Jan. 18, 2009. The annual ceremony celebrates the coming-of-age for young people.
A 20-year-old girl stands on a portable shrine carried by people along the seashore during a purification ceremony at the Katase-Enoshima beach in Fujisawa of Kanagawa prefecture Jan. 18, 2009. The annual ceremony celebrates the coming-of-age for young people.
Calves run during a race on the Mother Farm in Futtsu City of Japan's Chiba Prefecture, Dec. 28, 2008. The running competition of calves was part of the new year celebrations on the farm, which is aimed to bring good luck to its visitors in 2009, the year of the ox.
Tiger's Nest Monastery, perched precariously on the edge of a 3,000-feet-high cliff in Paro Valley , is one of the holiest places in Bhutan
Wat Rong Khun in Chiang Mai, Thailand is unlike any Buddhist temples in the world.
Prambanan is a Hindu temple in Central Java , Indonesia . The temple was built in 850 CE, and is composed of 8 main shrines and 250 surrounding smaller ones.
No one knows exactly when the Shwedagon Paya [wiki] (or Pagoda) in Myanmar was built - legend has it that it is 2,500 years old though archaeologists estimate that it was built between the 6th and 10th century.
Temple of Heaven is a Taoist temple in Beijing, the capital of China . The temple was constructed in 14th century by Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty.
Chion-in Temple [wiki] was built in 1234 CE to honor the founder of Jodo ( Pure Land ) Buddhism, a priest named Honen, who fasted to death in the very spot.
In the 19th century, Dutch occupiers of Indonesia found a massive ancient ruin deep in the jungles of Java. What they discovered was the complex of Borobudur , a gigantic structure built with nearly 2 million cubic feet (55,000 m³) of stones. The temple has nearly 2,700 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues.
The Harmandir Sahib (meaning The Abode of God) or simply the Golden Temple [wiki] in Punjab , India is the most sacred shrine of Sikhism.
The Temple of Srirangam (Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple [wiki]), in the Indian city of Tiruchirapalli (or Trichy), is the largest functioning Hindu temple in the world (Ankor Wat is the largest of all temple, but it is currently non-functioning as a temple - see below).
Last but definitely not least is the largest temple in history and the inspiration to countless novels and action movies of Hollywood : Angkor Wat.
A peek at life in one of the most fascinating cities in the world. It also has to be the most exotic & clean place on earth. A most unusual combination. The music to the piece is called Sunya's Freedom and was composed by Ed Barguiarena. The shooting and execution was done by Nick Higgins www.nickhiggins.com and the piece was produced by Kerry Candaele and Nick Higgins.
Visitors enjoy in a soy milk hot spring in Hakone, Japan, Oct. 12, 2008. The day is the soy milk festival of Japan. A hot spring holiday inn in Hakone Kowakien provided soy milk hot spring for guests.
An employee adds soy milk into a soy milk hot spring in Hakone, Japan, Oct. 12, 2008. The day is the soy milk festival of Japan. A hot spring holiday inn in Hakone Kowakien provided soy milk hot spring for guests.
Visitors enjoy in a soy milk hot spring in Hakone, Japan, Oct. 12, 2008. The day is the soy milk festival of Japan. A hot spring holiday inn in Hakone Kowakien provided soy milk hot spring for guests.
Disney characters Goofy squirts water onto spectators on a hot day during a special summer attraction "Cool Service" at the Tokyo Disneyland at Urayasu city in Chiba prefecture, Japan, July 18, 2008. 
Disney characters Stitch performs in front of a fountain during a special summer attraction "Cool Service" at the Tokyo Disneyland at Urayasu city in Chiba prefecture, Japan, July 18, 2008. 
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