Contrary to Christianity, in Buddhism there is no consensus about when the historical Buddha was born. In Japan, his birthday is celebrated on April 8 and the holiday is called "Hana Matsuri" (花祭) or "Flower Festival". In most places, they make a small flower gazebo and in the middle they put a statue of Buddha as a baby -people pass by and pour water or amacha (甘茶) or hydrangea tea on it.
The same amacha is offered to the visitors by the temples' priests.
(For a bigger version of this picture both in color and black and white, check my "Japan Arekore" set on Flickr)
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