Mitarashi dango served at Kamo Mitarashi Chaya 'Tea House' (加茂みたらし茶屋).

The Ro-mon gate of Shimogamo-jinja decked in lanterns for the Mitarashi Matsuri.

Portrait of Emperor Go-Daigo.

Wading in the Mitarashi Pond as part of the Mitarashi Matsuri.

In its traditional form, mitarashi dango is made up of 5 small rice dumplings...skewered, grilled, and served with a sweet soy sauce glaze.

Legend has it that the inspiration for the snack came from a miraculous incident involving Emperor Go-Daigo (後醍醐天皇 1288-1339).

#Kyoto #Shimogamojinja #下鴨神社

During Mitarashi Matsuri a special kind of fortune called 'mizuura-mikuji' (水占みくじ) can be found. Blank paper omikuji (御神籤) are placed onto water...as the water soaks in the fortune is revealed.

Kifune-jinja (貴船神社) is particularly well-known for this style of omikuji.
#水占みくじ #omikuji #Shimogamojinja

Lighting a votive candle at Shimogamo-jinja's Mitarashi Festival.

#Kyoto #Japan #MitarashiMatsuri #みたらし祭り #Shimogamojinja #下鴨神社 #summerfestival

my new summer robe
splashed by hot
purification water
更衣ふりかけらるる湯花哉
-Kobayashi Issa (小林一茶), 1795.
Trans. David G. Lanoue.

#Kyoto #Japan #MitarashiMatsuri #みたらし祭り #Shimogamojinja #下鴨神社 #summerfestival

Fireflies are kept in a cage at Shimogamo-jinja, ready for evening when they will be released in a beautiful display.

Tiny fireflies rendered in sweet form...the blue and green represents a river and riverbank.

Torches are lit at Shimogamo-jinja to illuminate the dark grounds ready for the release of fireflies.

Nao-san sets off for Shimogamo-jinja's firefly event.

🍵HUNTING FIREFLIES✨

Each year Shimogamo-jinja (下鴨神社) holds a special tea gathering called 'Hotarubi-no-Chakai' (蛍火の茶会). Over 600 fireflies are released beside the Mitarashi-gawa (御手洗川) as evening falls, bringing an otherworldly feel to the tea ceremony.

#Japan #Shimogamojinja #下鴨神社 #fireflies

To celebrate the Aoi Matsuri we serve sweets emblazoned with wild ginger leaves, motif of the festival.

Wild ginger leaves. The Aoi Matsuri has often been translated as 'Hollyhock Festival', but Aoi are completely unrelated to hollyhocks!

Participants in the Aoi Matsuri wear wild ginger leaves on their hats or clothing.

Shrines associated with the Kamo clan often use wild ginger leaves as a crest.

The Aoi Matsuri (葵祭) is named after the wild ginger leaves used as decoration (on clothes, headdresses and carriages) throughout the festival.

The tradition of displaying the leaves began with Kamo-no-Taketsunumi (賀茂建角身命), one of the gods enshrined at Shimogamo-jinja.

#AoiMatsuri #Shimogamojinja

Shimogamo Shrine | Kyoto Tourism Lab The World Heritage Shimogamo Shrine is known as

The World Heritage Shimogamo Shrine（下鴨神社） is known as “Shimogamo-san” by the locals.The official name is Kamo-mioya-jinja.
en.kyotokk.com/shimogamo-sh...
#Kyoto
#Japan
#KyotoTravel
#JapanTravel
#ShimogamoJinja