On the far side of Kenroku-en, Shinto preists draw sacred water from the historic Kinjo Reitaku spring to be used in the festival’s tea ceremony.The legend goes that gold flakes bubbled up from the spring which is the origin of Kanazawa’s name, Marsh of Gold.

Priests and guests then walk over to Seisonkaku Villa and on the Cashen Mound the previous years tea whisks are offered and burned.

As both of these rituals are deeply sacred, please keep talking or any noise to an absolute minimum.