Fema's Quick Tour In Kyoto, Japan

   

Want a virtual tour to Japan? Taking us there is my friend Fema Catbagan Kusumi based in Anjo-shi, Aichi, Japan. 

     But before we head to Kyoto where she had a quick tour with her family let me take you to our kindergarten classroom not so long ago. 

I am the girl wearing a different uniform and Fema is the cute girl to my right. Oh how time flies, I wonder what we talked about as kids right there before and after looking at the camera. I looked so shy and fearful while Fema already had those angelic eyes and friendly aura. 

Fast forward, let us join Fema on her quick tour to Kyoto with her husband, kids, brother-in-law and family who visited Japan on their way back to the US from the Philippines sometime in 2010.

-all photos unless otherwise specified are courtesy of Fema-

Yasaka Shrine

entrance of Yasaka Shrine

        Yasaka Shrine, once called Gion Shrine, is a Shinto shrine in the Gion District of Kyoto, Japan. Situated at the east end of Shijō-dōri, the shrine includes several buildings, including gates, a main hall and a stage. (Wikipedia)

     

Their smiles especially that of the kiddos reveal what a great bonding time they had. 

     I learned from Wikipedia that  Yasaka shrine was initially constructed in 656.

     

     During the early Heian period the Shrine became the object of Imperial patronage.

     

     In 965, Emperor Murakami ordered that Imperial messengers were sent to report important events to the guardian kami of Japan. These heihaku were initially presented to 16 shrines; and in 991, Emperor Ichijō added three more shrines to Murakami's list. Three years later in 994, Ichijō refined the scope of that composite list by adding Umenomiya Shrine and Gion Shrine.
     From 1871 through 1946, Yasaka Shrine was officially designated one of the Kanpei-taisha, meaning that it stood in the first rank of government supported shrines.

The stage in front of the shrine the night Fema and family visited
Yasaka Shrine
The numerous lanterns in the stage get lighted in the evening
and bears the name of local business who gave donations.

tourists and visitors of the shrine captured by Fema

     Thanks to Fema and wikipedia I learned another interesting story,

 in 869 there was an epidemic that hit the city and to ward

off the epidemic

 the mikoshi (divine palanquin) of Gion shrine were paraded through the

streets of Kyoto. 

Such was the beginning of Gion Matsuri, a world famous annual festival.  

It goes for the entire month of July and is crowned by a parade,

 the Yamaboko Junkō  on July 17.

 It would be awesome to visit Japan during the said festival. 

The mikoshi of the Yasaka shrine.

photo source- Wikipedia 

      

Fema's brother-in-law and wife flanked by friendly Japanese women

One thing I would love to experience in Japan

 is the warmth

and hospitality of its people. 

And to visit many of its gardens....

a radiant nature's gift captured by Fema in Kyoto

The photos above were taken by Fema three years ago. Now she has become one of the photo enthusiasts whose shots I love staring at. Here are some of her photos from other places in Japan I would love to feature next time.

photo by Fema at Akiba Koen, Autumn 2011

   shot by Fema at Agriculture Green, Todagawa Park

       Fema is one of the most prayerful persons I know and the way she lives her life with love and compassion is worth emulating. 

"In order to keep us from becoming too attached to earth, God allows us to feel a significant amount of discontent and dissatisfaction in life — longings that will never be fulfilled on this side of eternity. We're not completely happy here because we're not supposed to be! Earth is not our final home; we were created for something much better."- words by ~Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life which Fema shared in her profile. 

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from my humble world to yours

THANK YOU SO MUCH FEMA FOR SHARING TO US YOUR WONDERFUL WORLD

Kulasa

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