Yasaka Jinja is a Shinto shrine in the Gion district of Kyoto. It was originally built in 656 AD to honor the God Susa-no-o (God of prosperity) and is home to the Gion Matsuri. The Matsuri is a festival based on a ritual that was started in 869 AD in which a portable shrine known as a mikoshi was paraded around the streets of Kyoto to appease the gods and ward of a plague that was devastating the city. Today the festival is one Japan's most famous. Most of the shrine's existing buildings date from the 17th century.

This is one of those places I just stumbled into while I was out walking early in the morning before Kara was up. It had been raining pretty steadily and this just sort of cheered me right up. I just love it when that happens.

	Top: The Ro-mon, or main gate. Above: A ceremonial Stage with hundreds of paper lanterns.
	Left: Another view of the Ro-Man Below: Korean lion-dog (koma-inu) Bottom: Torii Gate

All photos on this page are originals by & copyrighted by Daren Willden, unless otherwise stated. All rights reserved.