Kyoto at Night
Our Airbnb is in an area that seems to be historic, but that might just be this whole city. We are quite close to many temples and the area where the Geisha’s live. After a second, or maybe third dinner, James and I got a second wind, sending us into the frozen night. There was practically no one out on the streets.
We would cross paths with the occasional pair of tourists or a Geisha hurrying home, but otherwise, it felt like Kyoto was a ghost town.
The brightest lights came from vending machines, which are everywhere in Japan. There is a bathhouse around the corner from where we are staying, it is equipped with vending machines. There is a liquor store as well. It too, is equipped with vending machines in case you don’t want to go inside.
We made our way to Yasaka Shrine, a nearby Shinto shrine with many smaller shrines to pray at as well as big bells to ring.
The smaller shrines are considered homes for the god, whose being can be there if it chooses. There is a very specific set of rituals including tossing a coin, hand washing, bowing and clapping to pray at these shrines.
The shrines are guarded from evil by gates as well as statues of dogs and many other spiritual elements.
Almost all the shrines we have encountered are sponsored by companies. For instance, the shrine for the god of beauty is sponsored by one of Japan’s biggest cosmetic companies. The beautiful white and red lanterns are all sponsorships by companies who want their name on the shrine. There seems to be a very unique relationship between business and religion in Japan. With sponsorships as well as praying traditions for good fortune in business.
I was not able to photograph most of the shrine due to rules.
Bonus content
Evening at Nishiki Market. A bustling place that seems to be mostly a magnet for curious tourists. Filled with every kind of food and shop you can imagine with prices much higher than you’d hope.
