Japan? category ?

The Boiling Water Ritual will take place on November 16th, starting at 2:00 PM. The Shinto priest dipped a bundle of sakaki branches into boiling water and vigorously scattered the water all around. The hot water splashed onto me and was very hot, but I felt that, in return, I received many blessings.

Founded in 1202, this shrine is dedicated to Ebisu, a deity associated with business prosperity. Every year, the Toka Ebisu (Ebisu Festival) is held from January 8th to 12th, centered around January 10th. At this festival, bamboo branch believed to bring good fortune were distributed.

The Mitarashi Festival is held for about ten days around late July each year at the Mitarashi Pond within the precincts of Shimogamo Shrine. This is a Shinto ritual based on the belief that dipping one's feet into the pond to purify oneself during the change of seasons ensures good health and freedom from illness.

Shiba Daijingu is a shrine that was founded in 1005. The Daradara matsuri Festival is held annually from September 11 to 21. When I arrived at the shrine, it was bustling with the sounds of flutes and drums. In the past, a great deal of ginger was grown in this area, so it was offered at the shrine during festivals.

Hyakumanben Chionji is one of the head temples of the Jodo sect. A craft market is held at Hyakumanben Chionji Temple on the 15th of every month. (Closed in August) So many stalls lined the grounds that the spacious precinct felt cramped. There were a lot of unusual things, and it was fun.

Kodaiji is a temple featuring a garden with two ponds that incorporates the Higashiyama mountains into its scenery. Nighttime illumination events are held for a limited time during spring, summer, and autumn. The bamboo forest within the temple grounds is a particularly popular spot.

Kyoto-Ebisu-jinja shrine was built in 1202 as the guardian shrine of Kenninji Temple. It is considered one of the three greatest Ebisu shrines in Japan. Ebisu is depicted holding a fishing rod and a sea bream, and is believed to bring good fortune for safe voyages and travels, as well as success in fishing and business.

Shimogamo-jinja is a shrine with a long history, first mentioned in records as far back as 90 BC. The two main buildings are designated as Japanese national treasures. The forest within the shrine grounds covers an area of 124,000 square meters, and ancient vegetation still remains.

The grave of Okita Soji is located within the temple grounds. He is a member of the Shinsengumi, a group formed in Kyoto during the 19th century to protect the Tokugawa shogunate. He is known as a brilliant swordsman and is a highly popular historical figure who appears in numerous movies, novels, and manga.

This temple was founded in 1614 and relocated to its current site in 1780. The grave of Raiden Tameemon (1767-1825), a sumo wrestler who was active during the Edo period, is located here. He lost only ten bouts during his twenty-one-year career in the sumo ring and is considered the greatest sumo wrestler in history.