The temple of _Suwa_, according to Kämpfer’s description, stands not far from the town, upon the mountain _Tutla_ (?). A fine staircase, of two hundred stone steps, leads up to it. The temple court, somewhat lower than the Miya itself, extends down the declivity of the mountain. At the entry of this court, next the gate, is a long, open room, or gallery, where plays are acted, for the diversion both of _Suwa_ and his worshippers. This room is curiously adorned with many pictures and carved images, placed there by devout worshippers in fulfilment of vows made in some moment of exigency. Further off stand some small chapels of wood, clean and neat, but without ornaments. In the same court stand the temples of _Morisaki Gongen_, and _Sumiyoshi_, each of whom has also his _Mikoshi_, or small eight-angular shrine, curiously adorned, and hanging in beautiful polls, wherein their images or relics are carried about upon festivals. Kämpfer also observed, in the same enclosure, another small chapel, built in honor of the god and lord of thousand legs, hung about with numbers of his clients, that is, with legs of all sorts and sizes, given by his worshippers. There are several festivals sacred to _Suwa_, of which the chief is on the seventh, eighth, and ninth days of the ninth month[157]. On the eighth the god is diverted in his temple, at the expense of rich and devout people, with a musical concert, performed by boys beating upon drums and bells—the very same music made use of to appease the supreme kami _Tenshō Daijin_, when, out of disdain and anger, she hid herself in a cavern, and thereby deprived the world of light and sunshine[158]. The great festival of the ninth consists of processions through the principal streets, and spectacles exhibited in a temporary building of bamboo, with a thatched roof, open towards the square on which it is erected. “The whole building,” says Kämpfer, “scarcely deserves to be compared to one of our barns, it is so mean and simple, for it must be purposely built according to the sorry architecture of their indigent ancestors.” A tall fir is planted on each side of the front of this temple, and three sides of the square are built round with benches and scaffolds for the convenience of spectators. [Illustration: FESTIVAL WITH MIKOSHI] “Everything being ready, the Shintō clergy of the city appear in a body, with a splendid retinue, bringing over in procession the _Mikoshi_ of their great _Suwa_, as, also, to keep him company, that of _Sumiyoshi_. _Morisaki Gongen_ is left at home, as there is no instance in the history of his life and actions from which it could be inferred that he delighted in walking and travelling.