The best Shinto shrines in Kyoto, Japan

Kyoto is home to over 400 Shinto shrines, so it can be a daunting task to choose the best shrine to visit on any trip. Here are some beautiful pictures of the best shrines in Kyoto to help make your choice that little bit easier.

Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine

Fushimi Inari Shrine is an important Shinto shrine in southern Kyoto. It is famous for its thousands of vermilion torii gates, which straddle a network of trails behind its main buildings. The trails lead into the wooded forest of the sacred Mount Inari, which stands at 233 meters and belongs to the shrine grounds.

Fushimi Inari is the most important of several thousands of shrines dedicated to Inari, the Shinto god of rice. Foxes are thought to be Inari's messengers, resulting in many fox statues across the shrine grounds. Fushimi Inari Shrine has ancient origins, predating the capital's move to Kyoto in 794.

Heian Jingu Shrine

Heian Jingu Shrine is a relatively recent addition to Kyoto's collection of sacred places, but is still a very impressive shrine which features elegant, richly-colored buildings surrounded by large gardens in the four cardinal directions.

Built in 1895 to commemorate the 1100th anniversary of the founding of Heian Kyo (Kyoto), and dedicated to the Emperors Kammu and Komei, the first and last Emperors to rule Kyoto, the buildings are a partial replica of the Imperial Palace of the Heian Period (794-1185). The vermillion-lacquered Otenmon Gate and Daigoku-den (main hall) are especially beautiful. The gardens are representative of Meiji Period garden design, and have a rich variety of flowers that change with the four seasons.

Yasaka Jinja Shrine

Yasaka Jinja Shrine is a colourful, bustling downtown shrine in the heart of the city, which overlooks the geisha and entertainment district of Gion. It is one of Kyoto’s most important shrines and has a long connection with the Kyoto Geisha community. The shrine is home to the famous Gion Matsuri which takes place every year over the entire month of July.

Shimogamo Jinja Shrine

Shimogamo Jinja Shrine is one of the oldest and most beautiful shrines in Kyoto. Located at the junction of the Takano and Kamo Rivers, the shrine is surrounded by an ancient forest with trees that are up to 600 years old making it an amazing place to take a stroll.

Kifune Jinja Shrine

Kifune Jinja Shrine is located up on a hill that offers a fantastic escape from the heat of summer in the city. Stone steps lined with red lanterns create an attractive and atmospheric setting that is just magical in any season.

Kamigamo Jinja Shrine

The Kamo Shrines, Shimogamo Shrine and Kamigamo Shrine, are both recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. They are two of the most important and oldest shrines in Kyoto.

In fact, the Kamo Shrines even predate the city's establishment as national capital in 794. Throughout the thousand years that Kyoto served as Japan's capital city, the Imperial Court patronized the shrines as establishments dedicated to the city's protection and prosperity.

See more: Discover 5 unique and incredible traditions in Kyoto

Source: Internet

Traditional Chinese medicine tricks in 5 ingredients

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is an ancient healing system based on Taoist principles of living in harmony with nature. Eating the right foods is central to adjusting our bodies, helping the organs function smoothly and in harmony with one another. Here are five star ingredients to make you feel fitter and more energized, according to TCM.

Ginseng

Ginseng’s Chinese name, renshen, means “human root,” because it vaguely resembles a human body: a bulbous head on top, with two “arms” and two forked “legs” at the bottom. Its appearance is significant in Chinese culture, because it’s taken to symbolize ginseng’s potent ability to cure human ills.

Specifically, ginseng is said to strengthen and replenish qi (vital energy), which is essential to the body. Qi a vital substance that sustains life, warming the body and allowing it to move and develop. Qi circulates throughout the body along with blood, providing energy to our organs and tissues.

Goji berries

Also known as wolfberries, goji berries have been used as an herbal remedy for over 3,000 years, with its first recorded use in The Classic of Herbal Medicine. More recently, it’s come to the attention of the West, who revere it as a “superfood” that’s packed with a potent punch of antioxidants and vitamins.

These berries taste floral and sweet, and usually come in dried form. They are thought to be anti-aging because they can benefit the kidneys and to nourish jing, or kidney essence, which underpins human vitality. Goji berries are also eaten to improve eyesight.

Mung beans

This essential yin (cooling) food helps to detoxify the body, expelling heat and adding moisture. Yin and yang are the opposing, primordial elements of nature. To be in good health, our bodies need a roughly equal balance between yin and yang.

Summer time is associated with yang, so it’s important to cool down our bodies with a yin food like mung beans. A refreshing bowl of refrigerated mung bean soup – quite simply, mung beans simmered in water for 20 minutes – is very popular in China during hot weather.

Jujube

Jujube dates have been used in TCM recipes for centuries. They can easily be steeped as teas or steamed with congee to aid circulation and to bolster qi. These brightly-colored fruits are high in vitamins B and C, with a firm red skin, soft, sweet flesh and large seed in the middle.

The seed of the jujube is as important as the flesh. Jujube seeds are thought to promote blood flow, calm the mind, and soothe the nerves, and are often used to treat insomnia. When cooked in water, jujube seeds can reduce fatigue and regulate sleep.

Walnuts

The Chinese have long believed that eating walnuts can sharpen the mind and boost concentration and memory. This stems from the fact that the crinkled appearance of a walnut resembles the folds of a human brain – and according to TCM principles, like replenishes like. In fact, walnuts help to lower cholesterol and have been found to contain compounds that aid the heart and the brain, including omega-3 fats, vitamin E and folate.

In addition to helping the brain, walnuts can support kidney qi and aid digestion by lubricating the intestines. As a warming food, walnuts are a great addition to the diet during the winter months. You can snack on raw walnuts or incorporate them into stir-fries or baked goods.

Read more: The main flavors of Chinese cuisine

Source The Culture Trip

Best activities to do in Galle, Sri Lanka

Galle, on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka, is where heritage has become hip. Galle is surprisingly unlike anywhere else in Sri Lanka. It's an ideal place to relax in style. Here are the top things to do in Galle.

Go on a Heritage Walk Through Galle Fort

Galle Fort is undoubtedly the city's prime attraction. It's large, 130 acres to be precise, and the most enjoyable way of exploring it is to wander about on foot. In fact, this is one of the top things to do in Sri Lanka. For curious travelers who aren't content with simply getting lost in the fort's lanes, Galle Fort Walks conducts personalized guided tours that provide fascinating insight its history. There are two options to choose from: Standard or Extended. The standard 90-minute tour covers all the architectural and cultural highlights, tailored to suit guest interests. The extended 150-minute tour goes into detail about colonization in Sri Lanka and its impact. End the day with a magical sunset walk along the fort's ramparts.

Learn About Sri Lanka's Maritime History

History buffs can expand their knowledge by visiting the newly restored Maritime Archaeology Museum (not to be confused with the National Maritime Museum), which occupies a 1671 Dutch spice warehouse on Queen Street. It's an attractive little museum, with four galleries that showcase the country's extensive maritime history from as far back as the prehistoric age. Sri Lanka was in the middle of an international trade route, so it's particularly interesting to see how various cultures were brought together. Exhibits include replicas of ships and relics from shipwrecks in the area.

Take a Look Inside the Dutch Reformed Church

This seemingly modest white church, near the entrance to the fort on Church Street, is not what you might expect inside. Its floor is covered with Dutch gravestones! Not only that, its walls are adored with plaques commemorating the deaths of late Dutch commanders of Galle, and there are burial chambers in its garden. The Dutch Reformed Church belongs to the Protestant religion and was created in the Netherlands during the turbulent Protestant Reformation in the 16th century. The Dutch brought the religion with them to Sri Lanka and the church is one of the oldest Protestant places of worship in the country. Its foundations were laid in 1682 but construction wasn't completed until 1755.

Dine on Delicious Food

The Old Dutch Hospital adjoining Galle Fort has been converted into a classy dining and shopping precinct. It's a great place to commence your culinary voyage in Galle, and is also a standout spot to see the sunset as the top floor has sea views. A Minute by Tuk Tuk is a quirky favorite serving contemporary Sri Lankan food with a deck overlooking the water. Elegant Sugar Bistro and Wine Bar has an eclectic menu (try the iconic crab kottu) and an extensive range of fine wines.

Shop for Snazzy Souveniers

Make sure you have plenty of space in your suitcase because Galle Fort is filled with irresistible things to buy! There are several upmarket tea stores in the Old Dutch Hospital, with Withered Leaves in particular standing out. Orchid House Boutique has reasonably-priced jewelry, tea and handicrafts (most items are designed by the owner) and Jo Jo on Pedlar Street sells quality gems and jewelry. Barefoot, at the intersection of Pedlar and Church streets, is famous for bright textiles and homeware. Karma Collection on Leyn Baan Street has a gorgeous range of goodies including fashion, art, and accessories. Olanda Furniture, in a Dutch colonial house on Leyn Baan Street, specializes in antiques. The Old Railway is worth venturing to outside Galle Fort for bespoke clothes, crafts and jewelry. It also has a cafe.

Explore a Local Market

Step outside laid-back Galle Fort and you'll definitely know you're still in Sri Lanka. There are vibrant action-filled local markets to explore, for those who are up for an adventure. They provide excellent opportunities for photography too. On Main Street you'll find the 300 year-old Dutch Market, where fresh produce is sold. There are spice shops further along the street. Early risers can also catch the fish market alongside the beach, which comes to life with a cacophony of activity after the fishing boats return with the day's catch.

Get a Massage

What better way to top off your trip than with a rejuvenating massage but don't bother with the rather overrated Spa Ceylon. Sampath, at Spa Sandeshaya on Lighthouse Street, will work wonders to get rid of any tension with his acclaimed deep tissue massage. The Fort Spa on Church Street and Olu Spa in the Old Dutch Hospital are also recommended for a comprehensive range of treatments.

See more: Most breathtaking natural sights in Sri Lanka

Source: Internet