Akutai Matsuri

Found on the peak of Mt Atago in Ibaraki, Atago Shrine gets rather rowdy on the third Sunday of December every year. The annual Akutai Matsuri ('Cursing Festival') sees 13 priests dress up as tengu (a kind of mythical demon) and parade the grounds, making offerings along the way. Meanwhile, onlookers yell insults at the group and try to rob the priests of their offerings – successful snatchers are said to get a nice boost of good luck for the upcoming year. This one sounds like the perfect festival for anyone with a little pent-up frustration...