If there is a place where I have left my heart and soul back, it is Japan! More than 4 weeks have elapsed and we find ourselves reliving each and every day again and again.
Fushimi-Inara, the torii gates, I had seen the pictures millions of times but nothing prepared us for the majestic spectacle of this place. Of course your mind says it is just wood blocks on a mountain, just man made….. but your heart says otherwise.
We reached at around 7am and the place had an eerie stillness in the air. The sunlight was playing hide and seek with us. The floral incense wafted in the air and we caught fleeting glimpses of the priests darting from one shrine to the other. My hands refused to let go of the camera, every turn and corner, though the same, was different. If not my own camera, I found myself happily being the photographer for others too.
We climbed up the 233 meters mountain with over 12000 steps, realising that the magic was in the divinity of the air and the purity of the atmosphere. We reached the top, grateful at each and every turn and blessed by the fox statues, the local guardians of the shirine. It was bliss.
The route back however was a different story. Thousands thronging the steps, climbing up in a mega procession, and we were back into the world again. Happily we joined in the chaos of the milieu, cameras, babies, kimonos, all in ovne mould…..all about to witness ancient history
Moral of the story- please visit early morning !
So, for the boring information part, here goes ….
Fushimi inara is perhaps the most visited shrine outside Tokyo, famed for its 12000 vermilion tori gates, a delectable mazze of orange and black lines, all donated by those souls in need of good luck. Originally dedicated to the Shinto spirit Inari, of rice, sake and business. The red torii gates that are lined up at Fushimi Inari are all donated by an individual or a business. You can find the name of the person or business carved into the poles. A torii gate will cost you from £500 and above, depending on its size. It’s not cheap to keep the god of rice happy
The vermilion red colour of the torii gates symbolises the protection against evil forces and the mercury in the paint serves as a preservative.
Apologies as i know these images are repetitive, but there were in excess of 500 photos we took…..
To my Kids with Love 