Heian Shrine

– Heian Jingu – 平安神宮 – Kyoto （京都） – May 4, 2017   Compared to many shrines in Kyoto, Heian Shrine is new. It was built in 1895 on the 1100th anniversary of Kyoto becoming the old capitol. Every May and June the iaido taikai are held across the street in the Miyakomesse. On my way to the taikai, I always see the massive torii, but I never took the time to visit Heian Shrine, but this year I did. The grounds are massive and all what white stuff is gravel. I don’t recommend taking your rolling suitcase with you…

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Nishiki Tenman-Gu Shrine

Nishiki Tenman-Gu Shrine

– Nishiki Tenman-Gu – 錦天満宮 – Kyoto （京都） – May 3, 2017   Nishiki Tenman-gu is a small, quirky shrine on Teramachi Street in the Ponto-cho area of Kyoto. It was built during the Heian period and was moved to its current location by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. It’s quite cute, with various electronic fortune machines around the inside. Sadly, there was no calligrapher there, so I got a loose paper goshuin that was prepared before and pasted it into my goshuincho. This goshuin is in my Inuyama Castle Goshuincho. Location

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Shimogamo Shrine

Shimogamo Jinja Goshuin

– 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. 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…

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Atsuta Shrine

– Atsuta Jingu – 熱田神宮 – Nagoya （名古屋） – April 23, 2017 Atsuta Shrine is one of the Japan’s most important Shinto shrines, second only to Ise Shrine. It was built 1900 years ago and enshrines the Sun Goddess Amaterasu. As you may be aware, Japan has Three Sacred Treasures: the sword Kusanagi, the mirror Yata no Kagami, and the jewel Yasakani no Magatama. Atsuta Shrine houses one of these three treasures: Kusanagi. Sadly you cannot see the sword. Not even the emperor can see the sword. No one has actually seen the sword since the Edo Period, but we…

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Osu Kannon

– Osu Kannon – 大須観音 – Nagoya （名古屋） – April 23, 2017   I go to the Osu Kannon area a lot for Solo Pizza and shopping. It was built during the Kamakura period in Gifu Prefecture, but it kept getting damaged by floods so Tokugawa Ieyasu moved it to Nagoya in the 1600’s. It houses a huge statue of Kannon made by Kobo Daishi, the founder of Shingon Buddhism. This goshuin is in my Inuyama Castle Goshuincho. Location

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Hachidai Hakuryuu Shrine

– Hachidai Hakuryuu Taisha – 八大白龍大社 – Kakamigahara （各務原市） – April 16, 2017   I’m not 100% sure how to read the kanji for this shrine. Despite the “taisha” in the name, it’s a smallish~medium sized shrine. It’s probably read one of these three ways: Hachidai Hakuryuu Taisha Hatsuta Hakuryuu Taisha Yahiro Hakuryuu Taisha Last year I visited this shrine for the fireworks at the big Ogase Hanabi Taikai. It was crazy crowded and dark and I didn’t really get to see much. When I arrived, I was surprised to see so many people. I wanted to take more photos…

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Haritsuna Shrine

– Haritsuna Jinja – 針綱神社 – Inuyama （犬山市） – April 12, 2017   Haritsuna Shrine is one of the shrines located at the base of Inuyama Castle. I’ve read it as Harimo and Haritsuna Shrine so I’m at a loss for how to read the kanji. I got my hamaya, a kind of good luck charm, here in 2018. This goshuin is in my Inuyama Castle Goshuincho.

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Sanko Inari Shrine

– Sanko Inari Shrine – 三光稲荷神社 Inuyama （犬山市） – April 12, 2017 Sanko Inari Shrine is one of the three shrines at the base of Inuyama Castle. It’s extremely popular. This was the very first Goshuin I received. I love Inuyama Castle and after learning about goshuin and goshuincho I knew I really wanted a goshuincho from one of the shrines at the base of Inuyama Castle. This goshuin is in my Inuyama Castle Goshuincho.

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Inuyama Castle Goshuincho

Inuyama goshuincho

Inuyama Castle Goshuincho   When: April 12, 2017 Where: Sarutahiko Shrine and Sanko Inari Shrine Size: Small (11.5cm x 16cm)   My Inuyama Castle goshuincho was the first goshuincho I ever bought. It was 1000 yen plus 300  yen for two goshuin and it came with a plastic cover. I live nearish to Inuyama Castle and its one of my favorite things in the area. So when I saw the goshuincho with the image of Inuyama Castle on it I knew I wanted it to be my first goshuincho. I will own others in the future, but this one will…

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