Japanese *mikoshi* (portable shrine) being carried through streets, Asakusa festival, Tokyo, Japan

Japanese *mikoshi* (portable shrine - lower left of image) being carried through the streets, local residents in traditional festival dress. According to Shinto belief, the ornately decorated miniature *Mikoshi*carry the spirits of deities around the suburbs during a matsuri (festival). During the matsuri, people carry the mikoshi on their shoulders from the shrine around the surrounding neighborhoods that worship at the shrine.