Kyoto boasts two prominent mountains in its environs. To the north-east, guarding the devil’s gate (kimon), is Mt Hiei, 848 meters tall. Its guardian shrine is Hiyoshi Taisha, and as the ‘mother of Japanese Buddhism’ it stands … Read the rest
Category: Kyoto shrines (Page 16 of 28)
Some people like to describe Shinto simply as a nature religion. It’s not. Or rather it’s much more than that. Walking round Kyoto a few weeks ago made me aware of this when I came across two small shrines that … Read the rest
Two nights before the big Gion Matsuri parade, and the streets of Kyoto are packed with excited visitors. Most are wandering around visiting the floats, viewing the treasures on display, watching the entertainment, looking at the attractive yukata, and … Read the rest
Kyoto Shimbun 2014.6.19
Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine Most Popular among Foreigners
“Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine,” in Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, attained first place among Japanese sightseeing spots popular with foreign tourists in 2013, according to “TripAdvisor,” a travel review … Read the rest
Yes, believe it or not, we are nearly halfway through the year, and there’s a Shinto custom that invites participants to reflect on their past and purify themselves in anticipation of a fresh start for the coming half-year. A … Read the rest
Following the historic conference at Ise Jingu, members of ARC (Alliance of Religions and Conservation) were taken on a tour of Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto, a World Heritage site. The shrine dates back to a time before Kyoto was … Read the rest
Kyoto is known as a city of Buddhism. Most of the head temples of the major sects are based here, and the most important events in Japanese Buddhist history took place here. Indeed, Mt Hiei is known as ‘the … Read the rest