– Shimogamo Jinja – 熱田神宮 –
Kyoto （京都） – May 3, 2017
Shimogamo Shrine and its sister shrine, Kamigamo Shrine, are both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. They are over 2000 years old. In other words they were built before Kyoto was ever the old capital.
Shimogami Shrine’s torii
Goshuin line at Shimogamo Shrine
Shimogamo Jinja’s goshuin and shrine
Inside Shimogamo Shrine
Shimogamo Shrine is in a lovely green forest called Tadasu no Mori. Every year at the start of the Aoi Matsuri, there is a big yabusame (horseback archery) demonstration. If you noticed the date I received this goshuin, yes, I was lucky enough to watch yabusame. I was amazed at how fast they were riding while shooting. Most of them were going about 30 mph and still hitting the targets. You have to get in line early and wait a long time, but I highly recommend seeing it.
This goshuin is in my Inuyama Castle Goshuincho.
