Kifune Jinja

During the Heian Period, the Imperial Court offered horses to the shrine when praying for weather: a black horse to ask for rain, a white horse to request clear skies. Horse statues still stand at the shrine today.

Its lantern-lined stone staircase is a signature feature and a major reason Kifune Jinja ranks among Kyoto's most photographed shrines.

Kifune Jinja is especially noted for seasonal scenery, with its shrine approach and forest backdrop changing through all four seasons.

A goddess is said to have arrived in Kibune on a yellow boat. At Okunomiya, a kilometer away, large stones reportedly cover the remains of that legendary vessel.