Japan Day 3, Part 3: Shimogama-jinja

I cycled back along the river to the top of the Y intersection where it met a second river, which was an idyllic spot for a temple. There is a wooded park filled with enough trees that it might have been difficult to find Shimoga-jinja if it weren't so orange. 

A series of increasingly impressive gates welcomed visitors to the 1200 year old Unesco Heritage site. 

The grounds were suitably lush for a shrine dedicated to the god of the harvest. 

I don't know the nature of the ritual I saw, but it certainly looked fitting to the setting.

The main gate was just as impressive leaving as entering.