At Ono Hachiman Shrine in Hiroshima Prefecture, a 400-year-old sacred tree towers over the grounds while intricate carvings of dragons and cranes adorn the main sanctuary.

Said to be rebuilt in 1618, the shrine exudes quiet dignity in the district of Ono, an acutely depopulated community tucked in the highlands of Jinsekikogen.

Every Nov. 3, residents gather for the shrine’s annual autumn festival to offer thanks for the harvest as traditional festival music echoes throughout the precincts.