On my way to another shrine, I have to stop and be nosey. I like to see how things are made:)
Shimogamo Shrine
The myth behind the Shrine
The ancestor of the Kamo clan, Kamotaketsunomi-no-mikoto, is said to have descended to earth on the grounds of Mt. Mikage, a mountain east of Kyoto. According to Shinto beliefs, this god metamorphosed into the three-legged deity of the sun, Yatagarasu. In this form, he led the legendary first emperor of Japan, Jimmu, throughout the Kyoto countryside and finally settled at the future site of the Shimogamo shrine.
This great god's daughter, Tamayorihime-no-mikoto, attended to her ritual duties on the grounds. One day while purifying her body in the Kamo river, she saw an arrow floating downstream. Unknowingly, she picked up the arrow, placed it on the shore, which before her eyes turned into a beautiful god. Shocked and smitten, she married the god and begot a child. Her son took on another avatar of the Shinto arrow, as the thunder god. Worshipped at Shimogamo's sister shrine, Kamigamo, the thunder god Wakeikazuchi is said to have all the power of thunder when it impregnates the land with life. His mother's legacy is therefore one of productive marriage and parenting.
This was a shrine located in the north of Kyoto, the grounds are enormous, and there must have been a photo restriction because I don't have many photos. They had a special exhibit, and would not allow photos, so this is a sneaky pic.
For me, this was one of the better shrines because there were few tourists, mainly locals, and they made it so much better. There were children in traditional clothing, and I tried not to photograph them from the front, trying not to be too intrusive, so am hoping these photos are respectful.
I believe this is a photo shoot for a wedding
Wedding Guests but wow look at the embroidery on that Kimono.
More water, this is the Kamo River in Kyoto, lovely park on both shores with people walking and riding bikes. The water comes down from the mountain in steps, and there's that soothing water soundscape, making it a very relaxing walk.
Teramachi Shopping
There is a complex of shopping strips, which are not quite malls, they are streets with cover, where both sides of the streets are shops.
In the middle of all of it is a shrine, which I didn't walk into, I am hungry, and it's getting late.
Nishiki Market
Oh Look at all that seafood, it's late and a little picked over, but I manage to find
Dinner!! It was some of the best sushi I've had.
and I pick up a creme brulee at 7-11, a bit runny but very tasty.
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