Although Narihira was buried at Jūrin-ji (十輪寺), part of his ashes were interred on Yoshida-yama (吉田山).

Ariwara was an expert poet, named as 1 of the 'Rokkasen' (六歌仙 '6 Immortals of Poetry') and 'Sanjūrokkasen' (三十六歌仙 '36 Immortals of Poetry').

He was even more famed for his love affairs with high profile women of the time. It's said he fathered Emperor Yōzei (陽成天皇).

#poetry #Kyoto #京都 #KyotoCasanova #Japan #Yoshidayama

Known originally as Kaguraoka Inari-jinja (神楽岡稲荷神社), it's recorded that as early as 824 various shrine structures existed on the mountain top.
Kagura-oka (神楽岡) was the early name for Yoshida-yama (吉田山).

The renowned poet Ariwara-no-Narihira (在原業平 825-80) had a villa on the mountain and mentions that Kaguraoka Inari-jinja (神楽岡稲荷神社) stood close to his garden.

#Kyoto #在原業平 #poetry #Yoshidayama #sakura #cherryblossoms

The origin of Takenaka-jinja is unclear, but it seems likely that it was established by Urabe Yoshihiro (卜部良芳).

The Urabe clan, also pivotal in the creation of Yoshida-jinja, were 1 of 3 families in control of Shinto matters for the court.

Currently Takenaka Inari-jinja (竹中稲荷神社) enshrines Uga-no-Mitama (宇賀御魂神), Sarutahiko (猿田毘古大神) and his wife Ame-no-Uzume (天宇受売命).

#Yoshidajinja #Yoshidayama #Takenakajinja #Kyoto #autumn #momiji

During its heyday Takenaka-jinja's snaking tunnel of vermillion gates rivaled those found at Fushimi Inari (at this location the shrine gates are a fairly recent addition).

Locals would joke that in the pouring rain it was possible to stay dry on the climb up the mountain as the gates were so numerous and so densely packed together!

#Takenakajinja #Yoshidayama #Kyoto #torii #FushimiInari #吉田山 #竹中稲荷神社 #京都 #鳥居

And there it might have it stayed were it not for another dream received by Ennin's disciple, Kaizan (戒筭), and Fujiwara-no-Senshi (藤原詮子), mother of Emperor Ichijō.

Both dreamt of a thousand cypresses bursting from the ground...from saplings to mature trees in seconds.

Senshi recognized the location of the dream as a spot she could see from her Higashisanjō-in Palace (東三条院の離宮), east of Yoshidayama (then Kaguraoka 神楽岡).

#Kyoto #Yoshidayama #吉田山 #京都 #Japan