{"id":4016,"date":"2014-11-07T07:30:53","date_gmt":"2014-11-07T17:30:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/suggestionofmotion.com\/auto-draft\/"},"modified":"2014-10-30T13:16:16","modified_gmt":"2014-10-30T23:16:16","slug":"japan-kyoto-yasaka-shrine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/suggestionofmotion.com\/blog\/japan-kyoto-yasaka-shrine\/","title":{"rendered":"A Temple on Main Street"},"content":{"rendered":"

You wouldn’t expect to see a temple at the end of one of Kyoto’s busiest streets, but that’s exactly where you’ll find Yasaka Shrine<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"Shijo<\/a><\/p>\n

Yasaka Shrine stands in stark contrast to the department stores, small shops, and noisy traffic that line the road leading up to this temple.<\/p>\n

\"Temple<\/a><\/p>\n

Temple Security<\/h2>\n

Two large guard dog statues loom over the steps leading up to the temple’s entrance. Their imposing presence is felt from all angles.<\/p>\n

\"Guard<\/a> \"Looking<\/a> \"Menacing\"<\/a> \"You<\/a><\/p>\n

The Path Leading In<\/h2>\n

A long path stretches out before us after we pass under the temple’s entrance gates. Along the way, students on a field trip enjoy bento<\/em> lunches, while girls dressed in traditional kimono<\/em> peruse the souvenir stalls that line the path.<\/p>\n

\"Merchants<\/a> \"Field<\/a> \"Kimono\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Inner Temple<\/h2>\n

We are greeted by another guard dog once we reach the entrance to the inner temple. Thankfully, this one looks much less menacing– welcoming<\/em> even. Presumably, the first two were meant to scare off the troublemakers.<\/p>\n

\"Ring<\/a> \"Enter\"<\/a> \"Lantern\"<\/a> \"Smile\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The inner temple is quiet and serene. The sound of a low bell occasionally breaks the silence, but for the most part, it is quite peaceful at the temple.<\/p>\n

\"Roof<\/a> \"This<\/a> \"Rope<\/a><\/p>\n

There are a lot of people here, but even more lanterns.<\/p>\n

\"Hold<\/a> \"Paper<\/a> \"Paper<\/a> \"Look<\/a>\"Red<\/a> \"3<\/a> \"Mini<\/a> \"Lantern<\/a> \"He<\/a><\/p>\n

A Final Farewell<\/h2>\n

We wind our way through the lanterns and small shrines, eventually reaching the rear exit which leads to a park in the low hills behind the temple. Before we leave though, we are “greeted” by one last guard dog, which happens to be the strangest one of them all.<\/p>\n

\"Diligence\"<\/a> \"Teeth\"<\/a> \"Big<\/a><\/p>\n

Gear<\/h2>\n