Mar 2, 2014 - 1 min read

Early morning at Kawai Jinja Shrine

Kyoto shrine was quiet and serene in the morning light

By Larry Knipfing

Community writer

A lantern in front of a roof covered in frost was extremely beautiful

Peek at the step of the main shrine from back behind an elegant border

This scepter-like object was accidently left out overnight on the shrine's ceremony platform

Lantern at the entrance lit up in the early morning

Entrance to the small yet beautiful shrine

The shrine's gold lanterns are beautiful

The early morning light was soft and still on these gold lanterns

Purification font

A large sacred tree in a corner of the shrine grounds

Another lantern near a wall of prayer signs in the shape of hand-mirrors

Reflection of stone lantern near the entrance to the shrine

At 7AM, I was almost all alone here

Located at the south gate of Shimogamo Shrine, I almost missed Kawai Jinja. I'm glad I found it. I was there, almost alone, around 7AM on a cold December morning. Frost covered the tops of the shrine's buildings and I could see my breath moving in and out, almost like in a trance. The combination of reds, greens and golds was beautiful, and especially the gold of the lanterns grabbed my attention as they combined with the snow up high.

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Larry Knipfing

By Larry Knipfing

Community writer

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