Kyoto Kitano Tenman-gu Shrine

Fragrant air from more than 1500 blooming plum trees

Tomoko Kamishima Mar 13, 2014 - 1 min read

<p>Just before the start of a ceremony, Shinto priests walk into the sanctuary</p>

<p>Visitors enjoyed a pleasant walk between the trees</p>

<p>“Two bows, two claps, and one bow” is the basic method of prayer</p>

<p>After they have finished taking a school entrance examination, many students and their parents came to give thanks to God</p>

<p>Entrance gate of Kitano Tenman-gu Shrine</p>

<p>Plum blossoms of Kitano Tenman-gu Shrine</p>

<p>The air is fragrant and still a bit cold</p>

<p>A peaceful spring breeze brought with it the delicate sweet fragrance of plum blossoms</p>

<p>These cattle also looked very happy under the beautiful plum blossoms</p>

<p>Pine needles and white plum blossoms</p>

<p>A great variety of colors and sizes of flowers were contested with one another</p>

A peaceful spring breeze brought with it a delicate sweet fragrance of plum blossoms on that day. Kitano Tenman-gu Shrine has a large plum blossom garden with 50 varieties of plum and 1500 plum trees. Thick pink, light pink, greenish-white, or clear white. A great variety of colors and sizes of flowers were blooming, competing with one another for our attention. Visitors enjoyed a pleasant walk amongst the trees. Cattle, which represent messengers of the enshrined deity that you will see here and there in the shrine grounds also looked very happy under the beautiful plum blossoms.

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Tomoko Kamishima @tomoko.kamishima

Japan is a small island nation, but we have a huge number of surprising things to discover here. Many of these delights can be found when you step off the main street onto small side paths. I really enjoy studying about and researching various aspects of traditional Japanese culture, and then sha...