Praying to meet a suitable marriage partner

On the night of January 15 in Furukawa, Hida City, Gifu Prefecture, women visited three temples and prayed for a good marriage. Originally, people visited the temples on this day in memory of a famous religious figure, and after the Meiji era, it become known as a place for men and women to meet. These days, women in kimono  pray in front of about 1,000 Japanese candles lined up along the river in the town. Their prayers include a wish to meet a good marriage partner and hopes that people affected by the earthquake on the Noto Peninsula can live in peace this year.