Early Morning: Yasaka Jinja Shrine

Beautiful and tranquil before the Kyoto crowds arrive

Larry Knipfing Jan 26, 2014 - 1 min read

<p>In a corner of the shrine's Main Gate</p>

<p>One of the smaller shrines within the larger shrine</p>

<p>In the early morning, before the large crowds begin to arrive</p>

<p>Picture postcard from 1910 of pagoda in the Yasaka area (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Yasaka1910.jpg)</p>

Construction began on Yasuka Jinja Shrine in the year 656. Since then, the shrine has played an important role in government affairs, as well as hosting local festivals. The Gion Festival is world famous. In fact, the shrine was once known as Gion Shrine, Gion being the name of this part of Kyoto. At the year end, hundreds of thousands of people visit to participate in Shinto rituals, and to pray for the coming year. This is a popular shrine year round, so I decided to visit in the early morning, before the crowds came. In the quiet of the early morning, it was quiet and serene, and the lighting was soft and comforting.

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Larry Knipfing @larry.knipfing

Born on Long Island, New York in 1958, I have spent the last 30 years of my life living in Japan, and enjoying every minute of it! I especially love photography, and Japan is definitely one of the most beautiful places in the world to photograph! My other love is fiction writing and I have pub...