Kyoto

Nov 12, 2014 - 1 min read

Shimogoryo Shrine in Kyoto

Autumn leaves at an ancient Kyoto Shrine

By Cathy Cawood

Community writer

Pink-toned maple leaves with the with the beautiful roof shape of the shrine's main hall in the background

Looking through the gate

The roof of this small shrine has a heavy coat of moss

Looking through the shrine's ceremonial stage

Yellow leaves have been swept into a small pile

Looking along a path between shrine buildings

There are donated sake barrels stacked beside the gate

I'm always fascinated by the beautiful designs on the decorative tiles that cap the plaster wall

A red torii marks the shrine entrance on Teramachi Street

The plaster is crumbling away on the wall facing the street

A quaint shop on the street corner opposite with the shrine in the background

This small Heian Era shrine is a peaceful oasis located on Teramachi Street near Demachianagi in Kyoto. It was founded in 863 to make peace with the angry spirits of the dead (at that time people believed those spirits caused problems like famine and sickness as revenge.) If such angry spirits existed, the quiet beauty of this shrine would probably succeed in calming them down! I visited in autumn, and there were yellow leaves scattered over the grounds, but the maple trees were just starting to turn, and were showing a beautiful pink tinge.

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Cathy Cawood

By Cathy Cawood

Community writer

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