To enjoy sports, to be able to enjoy sports. Introduce you shrines that may protect you! Vol. 4
- Hot spot for athletes
- With the family
- With the kids
- History
Kyoto City (Kyoto Pref.)
This article is based on the coverage conducted in June 2021, when a state of emergency was not declared in Kyoto Prefecture. The coverage was conducted taking counter measures against Covid-19 (to wear a mask, etc.) recommended at that time.
People pray to god; I want to win the game, want to achieve results at the competition, want to play with no regrets, want to play sports safely without getting injuries, want to recover from illness or injury soon, etc.
There are many ancient shrines in Kyoto. Your wishes may be granted, so why don’t you visit them before or after games!
There are many ancient shrines in Kyoto. Your wishes may be granted, so why don’t you visit them before or after games!
Vol. 4 God of lower body, “Goou” shrine in Kamigyo-Ku, Kyoto City.
Injuries are part and parcel of sport. There are many people who wish to bring out the full potential in the best condition, recover from injury soon, feel better, etc.
They go to see a good doctor, go to have massage and physical therapy, and then lastly, pray to God or Buddha.
Kyoto’s “famous spot for praying for better lower body” in present-day is “Goou” shrine, many people may agree with that.
They go to see a good doctor, go to have massage and physical therapy, and then lastly, pray to God or Buddha.
Kyoto’s “famous spot for praying for better lower body” in present-day is “Goou” shrine, many people may agree with that.
Taking a look at votive pictures (small wooden boards called Ema) hung here and there, I noticed that people write wishes for themselves like “I wish to recover from injury”, “Wish my lower back heals”, etc., and also, quite a few people write wishes for the athletes they support, like “Wish the figure skater recovers soon”, “Wish the rugby player gets better”, etc.
Those athletes written on the people’s votive pictures have actually recovered and doing very well. The figure skater was able to perform his brilliant technics again and won Gold medals at the Olympics.
If you walk 15 minutes from here and visit “Seimei” shrine which enshrines “Abe no Seimei”, the skater has “Abe no Seimei” themed programme, he could be protected even more.
Those athletes written on the people’s votive pictures have actually recovered and doing very well. The figure skater was able to perform his brilliant technics again and won Gold medals at the Olympics.
If you walk 15 minutes from here and visit “Seimei” shrine which enshrines “Abe no Seimei”, the skater has “Abe no Seimei” themed programme, he could be protected even more.
This shrine is on the west side of “Kyoto Imperial Palace” on “Karasuma” street, which is included in the course for “Inter-Prefectural Women's Ekiden”, “All-Japan High School Ekiden Championship” and “All-Japan Wheelchair Ekiden”. Many runners and teams come to pray for victory every year, some of them visit the shrine while doing rehearsal, so this is an important place for runners, too.
For your information, there is a pair of “stone guardian boars” there, just like “stone guardian dogs”.
It is said that “Wake no Kiyomaro” enshrined here was guided by a boar while travelling with an injury, so there is a pair of “stone guardian boars”.
I, born in the year of “Boar”, used to visit here on the way to work every day to pray for many things like “Wish my lower back pain gets better”, “Wish to recover from Achilles tendon rupture” and also “Wish my stiff shoulders get better”.
It is said that “Wake no Kiyomaro” enshrined here was guided by a boar while travelling with an injury, so there is a pair of “stone guardian boars”.
I, born in the year of “Boar”, used to visit here on the way to work every day to pray for many things like “Wish my lower back pain gets better”, “Wish to recover from Achilles tendon rupture” and also “Wish my stiff shoulders get better”.
■Goou shrine
Location: 385 Karasuma dori shimochojyamachi sagaru oukakuencho, Kamigyo-Ku, Kyoto-Shi
TEL: 075-441-5458
To get there:
Approx. 7-minute walk from Kyoto Municipal Subway’s “Marutamachi” station
In front of “Karasuma shimochojyamachi” bus stop of Kyoto City Bus No. 51
Location: 385 Karasuma dori shimochojyamachi sagaru oukakuencho, Kamigyo-Ku, Kyoto-Shi
TEL: 075-441-5458
To get there:
Approx. 7-minute walk from Kyoto Municipal Subway’s “Marutamachi” station
In front of “Karasuma shimochojyamachi” bus stop of Kyoto City Bus No. 51
The sports and disciplines
of the World Masters
Games 2021 Kansai
held in the neighbourhood.
Introducing the poster
Chikako SHIMOKOBE
I would like to introduce Kyoto’s fun sport culture from Uji city in Kyoto prefecture.
After working as a local government officer, I retired. Now I am a “Shigin (Japanese poem) teacher” and a “University student” studying history & culture with online course.
I used to play tennis, however, I retired due to Achilles tendon rupture.
I love watching sports, but I don’t watch baseball because it causes family conflict.
At work, I promoted new sports, comprehensive sports club in the region, cycle tourism, etc.
After working as a local government officer, I retired. Now I am a “Shigin (Japanese poem) teacher” and a “University student” studying history & culture with online course.
I used to play tennis, however, I retired due to Achilles tendon rupture.
I love watching sports, but I don’t watch baseball because it causes family conflict.
At work, I promoted new sports, comprehensive sports club in the region, cycle tourism, etc.
