Hiyoshi Taisha Shrine
Hiyoshi Taisha enshrines Sanno Gongen, the guardian deity of Mount Hiei. The shrine is situated at Sakamoto, beside Lake Biwa, north of Kyoto.
Moon rising over Hiyoshi Taisha beside Lake Biwa.
During the late Heian period Hiyoshi Taisha had very close links with the powerful Enryaku-ji Temple on Mount Hiei. When monks came down from the mountain to demonstrate in the capital and make demands of the emperor they would first stop at the shrine and take a mikoshi with them.
Unusual Sanno-style torii at Hiyoshi Taisha shrine.
A mikoshi is a portable shrine in which the shrine deity could travel from place to place, and no one would dare attack the monks while they accompanied it.
Mikoshi at Hiyoshi Taisha shrine.
Mikoshi at Hiyoshi Taisha shrine.
Hall guarded by lions (komainu) at Hiyoshi Taisha shrine.
Bridge at Hiyoshi Taisha shrine.
Main gate of Hiyoshi Taisha shrine.
