Kyoto

Jul 12, 2014 - 1 min read

Kyoto's Gosho Hachimangu Shrine

Small shrine in the heart of the city

By Larry Knipfing

Community writer

Gosho Hachimangu Shrine, Kyoto

Up in the rafters

The bottom end of the bell rope

Dipping cup at the purification font

Doves - A symbol of love and peace

More doves - Write a prayer on the back of the board and leave it here for God to answer

Tucked into a corner of the shrine

A beautiful chrysanthemum crest

Sign at the top of the torii gate

Looking out from the shrine to the road

Probably a statue of a calf

Notice the repaired ears

Not all temples and shrines in Kyoto are big and beautiful. Some are small and poor but still loved by the locals. Gosho Hachimangu Shrine is like that. I would never have visited except for the fact that it is right next door to the hotel I was staying at, the Hotel Gimmond. Even then, I walked right past it a few times before even noticing it. Then I did, went in and looked around, and found that even small, poor shrines have flashes of beauty in them. People come here to pray for the health of their children and for smooth deliveries.

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Larry Knipfing

By Larry Knipfing

Community writer

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