Today, Jan 20, is "Daikan"—the coldest day in the 24 solar terms. Tokyo chilled considerably; downtown hit 0.7°C at 5:21 a.m., 1.7° below normal (–1.3° from prior day). This weekend should ease briefly—a breather.
Newspapers usually run Daikan photo-led stories on evening edition page 1. Called "picture stories"—photo first, short text matched to the image.
Mainichi's evening edition that day featured the "Yukake Festival" at Kawarayu Onsen in Naganohara, Gunma—scheduled to be submerged by the Yanba Dam＝photo upper. Men in loincloths douse each other with hot water praying for health—a tradition. Main dam construction starts this fall; next year the festival moves to higher ground—the last at the current site is the hook. Though a year ago we also had "possibly the last at this site" (Mainichi Jan 21, 2013 morning). Well, the LDP loves public works—this time it's really the last.
Per the article, ~400 years ago when the spring stopped, residents offered a chicken; when hot water returned, "oyuwai-ta" (hot water came) became "oiwai-da" (celebration)—and dousing began. Around 5:40 a.m., locals and guests—
60 men gathered, dousing vigorously, enveloped in white steam, the story says.
Mainichi's Ibaraki edition covered pre-Daikan rite "Daikan Misogi" at Kashima Jingu (Kashima, Ibaraki). At 1°C at 7 a.m., 207 men and women including priests immersed in the sacred pool deep in the grounds to purify body and mind＝photo upper left.
Mainichi's news search also carries regional news (http://mainichi.jp/area/). Comparing seasonal events nationwide is fun. (Full articles need membership—register at http://mainichi.jp/info/.)