A giant sacred rope has been installed in Nara Prefecture, Western Japan

A giant sacred rope known as Shimenawa has been installed as part of the New Year’s preparations at a Shinto shrine in Nara prefecture, Western Japan. The thick straw rope at the Kasugataisha Shrine in Nara City is changed at this time every year. They replace a sacred rope over the tree at the shrine, as part of a tradition ahead of New Year.

Shimenawa are large ropes made of rice straw or hemp commonly seen at Shinto shrines, torii gates, and sacred landmarks in Japan. Shimenawa are much more than simple ropes – they are powerful ritual objects that connect the human and divine realms in Shinto.