Rainy season ideas: ⑭ 'chinowa kuguri'

Chinowa Kuguri is an unique to Japan Shinto rite for a summer blessing. Each year shrines around Japan put up a ring of chigaya grass. The act of passing through the ring of chigaya is called Chinowa Kuguri. Kuguri means 'to pass through'. 

The rings of chigaya are usually put up at the end of June or early July, so right when rainy season is in full swing. Some shrines have them up for several days extending from the end of June to early July. One such places is Hachimangu Shrine in Kawagoe, pictured Other shrines only put them up for a day or two. And some shrines don't put them up at all. In other words, they don't practice chinowa kuguri. They are part of what is called 'Oharae' which is performed twice a year. Oharae are purification rituals. One is in summer, in June, when they have the chinowa kuguri and one is in December, for end of year.  

If you want to do something spiritual and uniquely Japanese, how about finding a shrine with a chigaya and passing through it for good health this summer. The "how to" it is explained in this article on City-cost.