Power Spot Kurama Temple and Kifune Shrine – Refreshing Summer Short Hike

We will take a short hike to Kifune, a popular destination known for its cool and refreshing atmosphere even in the middle of summer. Would you like to walk along the ancient trail between Kurama and Kifune, nestled in the northern outskirts of Kyoto? This mystical area is known as a mountain where gods reside, with legends of the Tengu of Kurama and the warrior Yoshitsune. The trail features highlights such as the famous water fortune slips at Kifune Shrine, fresh mountain air, and beautiful nature. It’s a short 2-hour course of about 5 km and is suitable for beginners. Kifune Shrine is widely known for enshrining the deity of water. However, in the Heian period, it was visited for prayers related to love and relationships. From the Kamakura to Edo periods, it became associated with curses and vengeful prayers. Why did the perceived blessings of the deity change over time? There’s also a curious legend: near the Kifune River, someone supposedly became a god by declaring, “I wanted to see the divine ritual too!” just before the ceremony began. Your guide, Akito, who has a strong interest in history, will explain these stories as you walk leisurely through the area.