The Iomante Fire Festival is another element of The First Nations people ceremonial practice that I introduce my participants to.  ‘Iomante’ is the Ainu phrase for sending off and giving thanks for receiving the sustenance provided by a kamuy.  The Ainu belief is that the kamuy visit the human realm in the form of the animals like the Ussuri brown bear (Ursus arctos lasiotus), also known as a grizzly bear (yes, grizzly bears exist in Japan) to provide the fur and the flesh to devoted Ainu.  The Iomante fire festival is the ceremony in which the brown bear kamuy is paid homage to by the Ainu.  The Ainu express their thanks to the kamuy and look ahead to their next kamuy blessed ceremony.  Participants who join me for this spiritual journey with the Ainu will do so with press box seats for the entire ceremony so they may feel as if they are actually participating alongside the Ainu people, but in 2023 the festival was downgraded due to the effect of Covid-19.  However, in 2024, the ceremony will return to its full prestige.  This experience is only one part of my Hokkaido photo tour 2024, but an element I feel essential to understanding the majesty that is an authentic Japan photography adventure experience, and Mt. Fuji, samurai castles, the most pilgrimaged shinto shrine in all of Japan, and an ancient Buddhist hall are all included as well.