松尾大社 － The Great Shrine of Matsunoo, 18/09/2011

The view from the 松尾橋 (Matsunoo hashi), the bridge leading to the shrine over 桂川 (katsura gawa), River Katsura. In the background - the omnipresent mountains that surround Kyoto from all sides.

Front 鳥居, torii, a gate marking a sacred space of the shinto shrine.

手水や, temizuya, a purification pavilion in which a visitor is supposed to wash their left, then right hand, and then rinse their mouth. This shinto shrine was built in the place where a turtle was spot bathing in the mountain brook at the foot of the waterfall, so the motif of the turtle is repeatedly used.

The area of kamidana - in this case small 'houses' provided for 神,kami, sacred spirits of shinto. The kami can live in places, things, areas, but they can also travel and visit other shrines. In that case they use the hospitality of specially purified and evil-protected places (marked with an enclosing shimenawa, sacred rope, with attached shige, paper streamers).

絵馬 (ema), small wooden placks on which people leave their wishes and prayers to the 神.By leaving them attached in close proximity to the 本殿 (honden), main building enshrining the main 神, they make sure the prayers will be read. Instead of ema, the wishes can be also written on the rice spoons.

The 本殿, honden. In order to attract the attention of the kami, you need to offer them some money, then pull the rope till the bell rings 2-3 times, and then clap your hands twice. Then in silence you can tell them your wishes or express gratitude. In this shrine there are 3 enshrined dieties: Oo-yamagumi-no-kami (male), Nakatsu-shima-hime-no-mikoto (female) and Tsukiyomi-no-mikoto (male).

亀の井 (Kame-no I), The Turtle's Well in the First Garden. The water is supposed to be very tasty and beneficial, curative even. One can bring their own bottles and take it home, should they wish to.

霊亀の滝 (Reiki-no taki), The Waterfall of the Mysterious Turtle. Very beautiful, quiet and incredibly tranquil place.

An example of an 石灯籠, ishidooroo. stone lantern. Their shape is supposed to embody all 5 elements of the universe. Initially used only in Buddhist temples to light the pathways, in Heian period (794-1185) they started to be used as decorative items in shrines and private dwellings. 

曲水の庭 (Kyokusui-no niwa), The Garden of the Bent Water.

A view from the tea ceremony pavilion.

Time for a treat!A teacup of freshly 'beaten', bitter 抹茶 (matcha),and some local sweet treats, all with the great view over the second garden. The dumpling with red bean paste was sake-flavoured, the green one reminded me of sour Haribo jelly, and the pink one tasted like pink powder candy :-)

Another sacred space in the enchanted forrest.

The Turtle's Well from behind. I simply adore the mystical atmosphere of this picture.

No Japanese pond would do without some 鯉 (koi), Japanese carps. These certainly knew how to beg for food!

First autumn leaves of 紅葉 (momiji), Japanese maple. Perfect marking of today's 秋分,shuubun, the first day of Autumn!