Saiin Kasuga Shrine, Shinto shrine in Japan
Saiin Kasuga Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Ukyō-ku, Kyoto, Japan, made up of traditional wooden structures set among old trees. Stone lanterns and weathered statues line the pathways that lead to the main hall at the center of the grounds.
The shrine was founded in 833, when deities from the Kasuga Shrine in Nara were brought to this site in the western part of Kyoto. It has remained largely unchanged over the centuries, continuing to draw people who seek healing and protection.
The shrine shares its name with the celebrated Kasuga Shrine in Nara, and you can see the same deity names inscribed on the altar tablets. Wooden ema tablets hang from racks near the main hall, left by visitors who have written personal wishes for health or protection.
The shrine is within walking distance of Saiin Station on the Hankyu Kyoto Line and can also be reached by city bus. A festival takes place in October, when the grounds are noticeably busier than on ordinary days.
The shrine keeps a stone called Hoosoo Ishi, said to have the power to cure illness. According to local tradition, a woman recovered from smallpox after praying here, and this story has shaped the way people think about the place ever since.
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