It had been about 20 years since I last visited Fushimi Inari Shrine, and it was full of Inari deities! I thought I would have climbed it more easily last time, but it actually took quite a while.

My impression is that there are hundreds of fox statues floating in the air, spinning around with smiles, making "kon kon" sounds, and bringing good fortune. The lower part has an atmosphere of animals, and there were some places with animal smells that were unpleasant, so it felt like it was half supernatural and half divine, but the upper part felt like it was more divine. It's a god that strongly brings benefits in this world, like "kon kon" for business prosperity. Of course, this is just my impression.

BGM: Copyright(C) Music Palette

It's an amazing place no matter when you come. I think that just by coming here, you tend to enter a meditative state.

The strength of the energy varies depending on the location. When you stand at an energy spot, you feel a strong energy that feels like it's pushing you. After feeling that energy for a while, I moved to the next energy spot, synchronizing with the energy, and repeating the process of eliminating the "difference" each time, so it took some time.

Because I had a little time, I went outside from the center and did a little meditation, coordinating my consciousness and breathing, and then I went outside after my consciousness became clear.

At the last statue, it was interesting to read that in Japan, the god of "thunder" corresponds to "water" in India (Hinduism). I think it was related to the thunder god "Varna." Indeed, storms, water, and thunder are a set. Is that what it is?

BGM: Copyright(C) Music Palette

I visited Kiyomizu-dera Temple after a long time.

By chance, there was a special event called "Senjitsu-gyo / Hon-do Nai-nai Jin Special Viewing," so I was able to enter. According to the official website, "Senjitsu-gyo is a day of worship that is said to be equivalent to a thousand days of worship for the Kannon statue."

So, I conveyed my usual grand wishes or resolutions, but I felt that I received various blessings in words that I don't usually use.

I visited Kiyomizu-dera Temple after a long time.

By chance, there was a special event called "Senjitsu-gyo / Hon-do Nai-nai Jin Special Viewing," so I was able to enter. According to the official website, "Senjitsu-gyo is a day of worship that is said to be equivalent to a thousand days of worship for the Kannon statue."

So, I conveyed my usual grand wishes or resolutions, but I felt that I received various blessings in words that I don't usually use.

This is a place of legends, including those of Atago and Minamoto no Yoshitsune. Spiritually, it is said to be a place where Sanat Kumara descended from Venus in ancient times, and more recently, a place where Uesui Mikao received Reiki.

Right after starting the climb, there was a memorial tower for Minamoto no Yoshitsune (also known as Genji), and I quietly paid my respects. Then, as usual, I made a grand request, expressed my hopes and intentions, and declared my resolve. I felt like someone said, "You're an interesting fellow. Not many people say such things. I'll follow you for a bit," and it seemed like a small being had attached itself to me. Of course, that doesn't mean something will immediately happen, but if it wants to follow, I won't stop it.

I think I heard a name, but it was a very grand name. In spiritual contexts, when a famous person's name comes to mind, it could be that person (or their spirit), but it could also be a related or connected entity. So, I'll understand it as being related to that famous person. Of course, it's related to the memorial tower for Minamoto no Yoshitsune. Should I call him "Cow-san"? It might sound like an animal, so "Wakan-dono" might be better. What do you think? The name that comes to mind naturally is "Cow-san." Or perhaps "Cow-wakan-dono." I think "Cow-wakan-dono" is good.

Personally, my knowledge of Minamoto no Yoshitsune (Genji) is only at a general education level, but because of this experience, I'd like to learn more about him if I have the opportunity. I remember seeing Yoshitsune Senbonzakura in Kabuki a long time ago. The scenes with human drama and cherry blossoms falling were beautiful and magnificent. That's the extent of my connection.

At the Kurama Mountain Museum (Reihoden), there was an explanation of the story of Minamoto no Yoshitsune, which was a good review. The museum also has a room where you can see national treasures of Buddhist statues up close, and I meditated there for a while before moving on.

The inner shrine is called the "Demon King's Hall," and it is said to be the place where a demon king came from Venus 65 million years ago. Spiritually, it is said to be Sanat Kumara who came from Venus. I think Uesui Sensei, the founder of Reiki, may have been the one who first mentioned this name, but I'm not sure. In a later work, "Sacred Legends Beyond Time" by Bob Ficks, who was somewhat known in the New Age era for channeling and meditation, a similar thing was written. I don't know if this author wrote it based on Reiki stories or if they unknowingly wrote it through channeling, but the description of Sanat Kumara coming to Kurama Mountain is consistent, and he seemed to regard Kurama Mountain as special, holding workshops there several times.

I had been interested in Kurama Mountain for a while, but I kept putting it off, and I finally came to visit. The entire mountain is full of energy, especially the main hall. The Buddhist statues in the treasure hall also had energy, but even more than that, the shimenawa-covered tree in the corner was particularly full of divine energy. The buildings in the inner shrine also had energy, but the main hall was the most powerful.

Some other blogs say that the inner shrine has the highest energy, or that the air in that area is different. But I felt that the entire mountain felt like a sacred area. Recently, when I go to various places, I find that sacred areas are expanding and becoming more powerful. I probably haven't been here before, so I can't tell the difference. I thought it was my first time, but I seem to have seen the traffic jam and crowds on the road when I went down towards Kibune Shrine before... Maybe I've been here before, but I don't remember, perhaps over twenty years ago. It might have just been Kibune Shrine. I wonder what it was like.

BGM: Copyright(C)Music Palette

If you go down from Mount Kurama towards Kibune Shrine, you will find a large crowd of people and a massive traffic jam. It seems to be a shrine for matchmaking. I made my usual grand wishes and declarations at the inner shrine, and then quickly returned to Kyoto. My original purpose was to visit Mount Kurama, so I had intended to just pass by Kibune Shrine, but even visiting and then returning was difficult. I think it would be better to restrict private cars to only those staying overnight and only allow day visitors to use a shuttle service for transportation. What do you think?

If you go down from Mount Kurama towards Kibune Shrine, you will find a large crowd of people and a massive traffic jam. It seems to be a shrine for matchmaking. I made my usual grand wishes and declarations at the inner shrine, and then quickly returned to Kyoto. My original purpose was to visit Mount Kurama, so I had intended to just pass by Kibune Shrine, but even visiting and then returning was difficult. I think it would be better to restrict private cars to only those staying overnight and only allow day visitors to use a shuttle service for transportation. What do you think?

I came here after a long time, but it seems that in the past, everyone walked quietly and slowly, but now people are making noise and observing, and there are quite a few foreigners, so I suppose it's unavoidable, but the atmosphere has deteriorated compared to 20 years ago. Ginkaku-ji is famous, so there were always a lot of people, but even then, the basic principle of observing quietly was maintained. Now, there are foreigners who are making noise and taking souvenir photos, and people who are throwing money into the pond and cheering, so it has become just a tourist spot. This is a Zen temple, not an amusement park, so people who don't have the basic attitude of observing should probably not come, but I don't think that would be understood by foreigners, so there's no point in saying it. Perhaps because of that, Japanese people are also making noise, and while there were always some noisy Japanese people in the past, the ratio seems different. There is a possibility that it was just the time when I came before that was particularly quiet. This is a personal experience.

I came here after a long time, but it seems that in the past, everyone walked quietly and slowly, but now people are making noise and observing, and there are quite a few foreigners, so I suppose it's unavoidable, but the atmosphere has deteriorated compared to 20 years ago. Ginkaku-ji is famous, so there were always a lot of people, but even then, the basic principle of observing quietly was maintained. Now, there are foreigners who are making noise and taking souvenir photos, and people who are throwing money into the pond and cheering, so it has become just a tourist spot. This is a Zen temple, not an amusement park, so people who don't have the basic attitude of observing should probably not come, but I don't think that would be understood by foreigners, so there's no point in saying it. Perhaps because of that, Japanese people are also making noise, and while there were always some noisy Japanese people in the past, the ratio seems different. There is a possibility that it was just the time when I came before that was particularly quiet. This is a personal experience.

It was surprisingly large, and I kept walking.

At a place called "Omitearai-ike," I put my feet in the water to purify myself and cool down.

BGM: Copyright(C)Music Palette

This place has various stories and spiritual rumors, but personally, I don't feel much of a connection. I've heard rumors that the priestesses here have high abilities.

This place has various stories and spiritual rumors, but personally, I don't feel much of a connection. I've heard rumors that the priestesses here have high abilities.

I visited Kenkun Shrine, which is said to enshrine Oda Nobunaga. However, it is not the place where his remains are, but simply a place where he is enshrined. It was surprisingly quiet, and there were few visitors. The park itself is large, but the shrine is small.

I visited Kenkun Shrine, which is said to enshrine Oda Nobunaga. However, it is not the place where his remains are, but simply a place where he is enshrined. It was surprisingly quiet, and there were few visitors. The park itself is large, but the shrine is small.

There were many stone statues of elephants, similar to the Nandi in India, which enshrine Sugawara no Michizane at the head shrine of Tenmangu. The size itself felt larger in Kamakura.

There were many stone statues of elephants, similar to the Nandi in India, which enshrine Sugawara no Michizane at the head shrine of Tenmangu. The size itself felt larger in Kamakura.

I visited Yasaka Shrine, which is near Gion. The shrines in this area are truly magnificent.

BGM: Copyright(C)Music Palette

My personal impression is that Jodo Shinshu Buddhism is for the common people. It gives the image of a place where common people with many worries gather. I was observing a memorial service from the side, and I noticed that at this Chion-in temple, the inside and outside are not separated by walls, so memorial services and chanting are visible and audible to others. I thought it was an interesting architectural design.

My personal impression is that Jodo Shinshu Buddhism is for the common people. It gives the image of a place where common people with many worries gather. I was observing a memorial service from the side, and I noticed that at this Chion-in temple, the inside and outside are not separated by walls, so memorial services and chanting are visible and audible to others. I thought it was an interesting architectural design.

By the way, Toji Temple was the starting point of the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage. I didn't see anyone who looked like a pilgrim.
Shingon Buddhism gives me the impression of having strong energy, like it's full of practitioners. That's just my feeling.

By the way, Toji Temple was the starting point of the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage. I didn't see anyone who looked like a pilgrim.
Shingon Buddhism gives me the impression of having strong energy, like it's full of practitioners. That's just my feeling.