The cold water endurance festival in Japan is celebrated annually by Shintoism followers who believe that the water purifies their soul. (Photo: AP)
The half-naked followers believe that the cold water purifies their souls of all sins.
The annual cold water endurance festival is celebrated by Shintoism followers in Japan.
A Japanese Shintoism follower bathes himself in cold water in the ritual called Misogi.
A shinto priest prays for a group of shrine parishioners before the start of the annual cold-endurance festival at the Kanda Myojin Shinto shrine in Tokyo.
Shrine parishioners run in front of the gate before throwing cold water on themselves before the start of the festival.
Japanese men and women take part in the annual cold water endurance festival where followers of Shintoism gather in large numbers.
The parishioners take part in a community cold water endurance gathering to purify their souls.
A half-naked shrine parishioner using a wooden pot throws cold water on himself during the annual cold-endurance festival at the Kanda Myojin Shinto shrine in Tokyo.
Japan celebrates spiritual cold endurance festival