Two years later
and I've made it back to Kyoto.
"Good morning! Roll call for the women's shrine!"
Today I'm heading with my host family
to Fuji-no-mori Jinja in Kyoto.
Every year on May 5th,
the shrine opens up for a special festival
that includes a parade,
a "kakeuma" horse show
and a tour of mini shrines around the neighborhoods in Kyoto
For example,
you may recognize this spot!
Many people know Fushimi Inari
as one of the most iconic shrines in Kyoto
because of it's famous red, "Torii" gates
But this is actually only one stop along the way
during the bigger Fuji-no-mori Festial.
What should I do???
Follow us!!
It's time to get ready :).
"Lookin' good, Loretta!"
These "hapi" coats and "tabi" shoes
are the traditional costumes
for carrying the "onna mikoshi" (women's shrine)
which is what I'll be doing today.
So now it's time to get out there in the neighborhoods
and start the parade!
[[Parade Start!!]]
This is my second time participating
but my favorite part is still how connected you feel
with the whole community.
As you go through each neighborhood you can
meet with everyone,
drink with them, eat with them,
and you really feel like you're a part of something bigger.
The whole parade lasts almost the entire day
giving you a chance to see
so many of the different neighborhoods of Kyoto.
And once you've made it all around
it's time to go back to the Shrine
for a few more, different types of activities!
In addition to the "mikoshi" shrine parades
Fuji-no-mori Shrine is also famous for
it's "Kake-Uma Shinja "
or the acrobatic horse tricks
that you can go and see at the Shrine
This is a fun and exciting tradition
where trained acrobats perform tricks
while riding a galloping horse!
...and the horse is out!!!
[[He's riding while WRITING characters]]
[[Riding upside down]]
[[Riding updside down WITH a Japanese flag]]
The Fuji-no-mori Matsuri is my favorite festival in Japan.
But whether you come with friends or family
just coming out and joining the community
is a great way to spend a day in Kyoto.