Gion Matsuri Yasaka Shrine @ Kyoto, Japan

Yasaka shrine is responsible for Kyoto's main festival - the Gion Matsuri, which takes place in July. The Shinto shrine is small in comparison with many in Kyoto, but it boasts an impressive display of lanterns. Visitors usually need to pass thru Yasaka shrine in order to visit Maruyama park which is famous for cherry blossom.


Yasaka shrine. Bright orange colour.

Entrance to Yasaka shrine.

A group of school children visiting the shrine.

Many lanterns on the stage.

Names on the lanterns.

Visitors paying their respect in the shrine.

The stage at night.

Bamboo shoot with Kobe beef on the street food stall.

GPS/Coordinate: 35.003624, 135.778531
Address: 625 Gionmachi Kitagawa, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture 605-0073, Japan
Admission fee: Free.
Public transport: Gion Shijo Station on Keihan main line.

Beautiful orange of Fushimi Inari Shrine @ Kyoto, Japan

Fushimi Inari Shrine is famous for its thousands of torii gates, which straddle a network of trails behind its main buildings. The trails lead into the wooded forest of the sacred Mount Inari. Fushimi Inari is the most important of several thousands of shrines dedicated to Inari, the Shinto god of rice. Foxes are thought to be Inari's messengers, resulting in many fox statues across the shrine grounds. The primary reason most foreign visitors come to Fushimi Inari Shrine is to explore the mountain trails and the shrine buildings.

At the very back of the shrine's main grounds is the entrance to the torii gate covered hiking trail, which starts with two dense, parallel rows of gates called Senbon Torii ("thousands of torii gates"). The torii gates along the entire trail are donations by individuals and companies, and you will find the donator's name and the date of the donation inscribed on the back of each gate. The hike to the summit of the mountain and back takes about 2-3 hours. There are also a few restaurants along the way, which offer locally themed dishes such as Inari Sushi and Kitsune Udon ("Fox Udon"), both featuring pieces of aburaage (fried tofu), said to be a favorite food of foxes.


Romon Gate which is a large gate at the entrance of Fushimi Inari shrine.

Fox, messenger of Inari the Shinto god of rice.

Fushimi Inari main shrine.


Building around shrine.

Small torii donated by visitors.

Fox statue everywhere in the shrine area.

Map of the trail of mount Inari.

Autumn colours.

Row of torii gates.

The two dense rows of torii gates of Senbon Torii

Torii gates with donor's name.

Fox statue.

Its like walking in a bright orange tunnel.


The torii gates when look from the another way around. This picture you can see the donor's name along the tunnel.

Shrine on the way up the Inari mountain.

Some of the part is not easy to climb as there are many small steps.


Me at the top of Inari mountain. Picture with the shrine at the top of the mountain.

Mountain view from up.

Me in torii gates.

Food stalls near the entrance of the shrine.

GPS/Coordinate: 34.967136, 135.772672
Address: 68 Fukakusa Yabunouchicho, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture 612-0882, Japan.
Public transport: Inari station on Nara line by JR West Kyoto.

Peaceful Jongmyo Shrine @ Seoul

Jongmyo is a Confucian shrine dedicated to the memorial services for the deceased kings and queens of the Korean Joseon Dynasty. It was a primary place of worship for kings throughout the Joseon Dynasty and has been registered as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site for its well-preserved ancient customs such as memorial services and traditional music. The memorial service, called ‘Jongmyo Jaerye,’ is said to be the oldest complete ceremony in the world. It is annually reenacted on the first Sunday of May. Jongmyo Jaeryeak, the musical part of the ceremony, is produced by instruments, songs, and, dances that originated over 500 years ago.

This attraction is closed on Tuesday.


The symmetry pillar famous in Jongmyo Shrine.

Long garden area.

Jongmyo Shrine.

Me with Jongmyo Shrine.

They have this guided tour who explain about the history of Jongmyo Shrine.

Coordinate/GPS: 37.574464,126.993882
Address: 155 Jong-ro Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Seoul Metro: Jongno-3(sam)-ga Station (Subway Line 1), Exit 11
10-min walk from station.

Fees:
Integrated Ticket of Palaces
- Four Palaces ((Changdeokgung (including Huwon, Secret Garden), Changgyeonggung, Deoksugung, Gyeongbokgung Palace)) and Jongmyo Shrine
- Ticket costs KRW 10,000, and must be used within one month of purchase.
Without integrated ticket:
- Adults (ages 19 and over): KRW 1,000
- Youths (ages 7-18): KRW 500

Guided tour:
[Free Tour] Mar.–Sep. 09:00-18:00 / Oct.-Feb. 09:00-17:30
(Free tours available on Saturdays only.)