Highlights of Japan's 'Hozuki Ichi' Ground Cherry Fair (8 images)
The Ground Cherry Fair, known as "Hozuki-Ichi," is celebrated at the Sensouji Temple in Tokyo on Tuesday. Hundreds of years ago, Japanese people believed swallowing a ground cherry with water could stop chronic disease. Photos by Keizo Mori/UPI
A vendor sells pots of ground cherry. Over 100 stalls sell the cherries and other souvenirs around the temple.
According to legend, paying respects to the goddess of mercy, the bodhisattva Kannon, on Shiman-rokusen-nichi on July 10, the blessings received from those prayers equal 46,000 such visits on any other day.