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Temples & Shrines

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Many People Visit Yasaka Jinja for "hatsu mode" which means the first visit of the year to a shrine. On new years day, many visitors will gather to pray for a safe and healthy year.

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Many people visit Yasaka Jinja for "hatsu mode" which means the first visit of the year to a shrine. On new years day, many visitors will gather to pray for a safe and healthy year. The "mikoshi" (portable shrines) were paraded through the city which became the start to the world famous "Gion Matsuri". The Gion Festival (July 14th-16th) is so famous that it shuts down traffic in central downtown for three consecutive days and is only accessible to pedestrians. The streets are lined with night stalls selling food such as BBQ chicken skewers, traditional Japanese sweets taiyaki, takoyaki, okonomiyaki, and many other culinary delights. You can catch a glimpse of beautiful local Kyoto girls dressed in their summer kimonos known as "yukata" walking around the area, carrying with them their traditional purses and paper fans.