The monk was a caretaker at the Tiger's Lair, a sacred cave shrine perched high on the cliff-face of a granite mountain.

CNN: ASIANOW - TIME Asia

On the second day of each year, the 2 January, the people of these communities proceed from dedicated sites to the shrine, where they perform nine sacred dances from dawn to noon as a prayer for happiness in the New Year.

UNESCO: Culture

Chichibu's sacred mountain, Mount Bukozan, has been the location for the Shinto Shrine for more than 2, 000 years.

NPR: Public Works Endanger Japan's Environment