"Shinobu-Sanzan Akatsuki-Mairi"

Mt.Shinobu is the symbol of Fukushima city and three shrines ; Gassan, Haguro-san, and Yudono-san are on Mt. Shinobu. "Sanzan" means three mountains and each shrine has a mountain in their name. During the Edo era, Shima-ya store's "hikyaku", express messengers (who carried letters and small packages on foot along the established routes) built a stone monument to pray strength of their legs. An old legend tells us that there had been the "Deva gate"(the gateway to a Buddhist temple with Deva Kings on both sides) before and people dedicated to the two Deva a pair of big waraji. This huge waraji is 2 meters long and on the day of "Akatuki-Mairi Festival", it's carried by 80 people. They go around downtown, then hang it on the steel tower. Waraji used to be hung on a big Japanese cedar which was next to Haguro Shrine. However, the Shrine was burned down, when Haguro shrine was burned down in August, 1976. The festival takes place at daybreak on February 10 and 11. About 100 stalls open. Many people visit the Shrine on these days.