This festival on Mt Kurama north of Kyoto dates from the 9th Century when a monk encountered two large snakes. One he killed and the other he spared on the condition to would protect the waters of the mountain. Every year in June they do festival where monks cut at bamboo stalks which represents the snake killed long ago.

Another festival in Niigata involves 2 giant snakes. A woodcutter encountered a giant snake and killed it. He pickled the meat and told his wife not to eat it till he got back. She did anyway and was transformed into a giant snake herself. She planned at one point to destroy the village but the villagers eventually killed her. The villagers make a long snake of bamboo that they parade through the town.