Yoshida Shrine, Shinto shrine in Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
Yoshida Shrine is a place of worship in Sakyō-ku, Kyoto, Japan, where red pavilions stand on forested slopes at the foot of Mount Yoshida. Stone lanterns line the paths between buildings, and smaller altars fit into the natural surroundings.
Fujiwara no Yamakage established the place in 859 to protect the capital Heian-kyo during Japan's classical period. Later, a form of belief developed here that differed from Buddhist teachings.
The name comes from the mountain where the red pavilions sit among trees and from the family who founded the place more than a thousand years ago. Visitors today come to pray, attend weddings and mark the turn of the year, when families ask for good fortune in the months ahead.
The place sits at 8 Yoshidakaguraokacho in Sakyō-ku and is open daily, though ceremonies may take place on special occasions. Visitors follow paths uphill through woodland and should wear comfortable shoes.
Religious tradition holds that a prayer offered here equals worship of three thousand deities at once. This belief draws worshippers who wish to connect their requests with greater reach.
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