The ancient temple of Saidaiji Kannonin was built around 1,200 years ago. Walking along the approach, visitors will pass by rows of traditional shops before entering the shrine’s gate and arriving at the main hall. Although generally shrouded in a quiet air, the temple teems with outlandish excitement every year on the third Saturday of February during Saidaiji Temple Eyo, an event more commonly known as the “Naked Man Festival.” This festival, famous as one of Japan’s three oddest festivals, features about 9,000 fortune-seeking men wearing nothing but a fundoshi (a traditional Japanese sumo-style loincloth) as they grapple excitedly for shingi (sacred sticks) thrown into the melee.