When you want to get rejuvenated or empowered, where would you go? Into the woods, where negative ions shower over you? Yes, there are a lot of places we could think of for that empowerment in the world, right?
In Japan, people visit shrines, especially ones which have some myths or sacred trees. Shrines themselves are indeed considered to be a sacred place. Spring water oozing from the ground near the shrine altars is used for purifying such pilgrims' body and soul. The altars, as a dignified being, welcome them with a spiritual aura.Kinomiya-jinja Shrine, a MUST shrine to visit
When you are near Mt Fuji, you should not miss Kinomiya-jinja Shrine. It is located in Atami City, Shizuoka Prefecture. It is an easy access from Tokyo or Kanto Area as well. Since Atami is one of the best hot spring resorts in Japan, you can also enjoy superb hot spring before or after getting empowered.Here are some pictures of Kinomiya-jinja Shrine
We hope that these pictures would get you empowered. We strongly believe just looking at them will give you some power.This is the entrance to the Shrine. The two banners and stone pillar which have the Shrine's name (Japanese: 来宮神社) welcome you. Walk on through this red gate, the path lined with bamboo trees....
On your left from the path, you will see small red gates, like Fushimi Inari in Kyoto (one of the popular shrines) and a big stone (next to the stone pillar). This big stone is sacred with the white paper on it as its sign. Yes, this Inari shrine is, like Fushimi Inari, worshiped and dedicated to business prosperity.
This is a closer-look of the Inari shrine. These red gates lead you to the alter, where you make a wish for prosperity of your business.
You can see the four white things above the stone, right? This is sacred spring water. Usually people purify their body and soul by washing hands at a place like this, and this purifying water is free. However, to get or even touch this sacred water, you have to go to the shrine office and pay for it. Otherwise, you might be cursed!!
This is the main "building" or alter of the Shrine. Bow twice, clap twice, and bow one more time, as the man in the picture does, to get blessed.
This shows some samples of Goshuin (Japanese: 御朱印, English: Shuin). You can get Goshin at the Shrine office, located left to the Shrine alter (in the previous picture). The red seal stamps (literally mean "shuin") added to the black Shrine name (four types available here) are given to pilgrims, who usually bring their own booklets for Goshuin collections.
See the wooden things hanging with red strings. These are called "Ema" (Japanese: 絵馬), on which people write their wishes and dedicate them to Shinto God or something very sacred. At this place, a very old and big tree (shown in the next picture) is a sacred "deity."
This Camphor tree is more than 2000 years old and worshiped as a very sacred tree. What would this tree have witnessed and thought about the changes of the world over these years? The wooden alter gives off a special aura at this vicinity of the Shrine. Visitors surely get some positive energy from this tree!!
This is a close-up of the sacred tree. With your wish kept to yourself, walk around this tree. You wish is said to be heard by this sacred tree. Probably, just walking around in awe may be enough to get rejuvenated.
Another old Camphor tree, or the Second Camphor tree, is also over 1000 years old. A small wooden shrine (the next picture), at its back, is dedicated to this sacred tree.
INSIDE the Second Camphor tree, this small shrine also welcomes you.
This small not the least shrine is another popular one. This is located closer to the red main gate. It is unique in that this gate is not red and made from bamboo.
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