Tadasu-no-mori is a mysterious age-old forest surrounding Shimogamo Jinja Shrine. From ancient days, people have treasured this forest as the source of spring water. In late November, I visited before dawn, when the sky was still dark, and then changed from pitch-black to dark blue. Huge numbers of crows cawed and cawed and cawed from within the heart of the forest. Walking down the 300 meter long approach to the shrine, I could see my breath in the cold morning air. When I arrived at the shrine and stepped into its precincts, flocks of the crows flew away - some to the north and others to the west. Then, complete silence was upon me. The night had gone.
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Kyoto Tadasu-no-mori Forest
Age-old forest surrounding Shimogamo Jinja Shrine

Community writer

Crescent moon hanging over the shrine and forest

The main gate of the shrine in the early morning

A flock of crows heading out

Complete silence

Snow on the roofs

Straw rice bags offered to God

Warm sunlight beginning to shine into the forest

Tadasu-no-mori is the source of spring water

Fresh morning

The long approach to Shimogamo Jinja Sharine

Morning has come

Along the stream

Camellias along the path
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