I really love the beauty and grace of the bamboo forests here.
After we passed through the torii gates, we came to this structure, home to the twin kami (gods) of thunder and lightning.
Here's a shot of the inside. Looks like he's got a case of the Mondays!
If you look through the doorway into the background you can see orange lamp posts. A hundred lanterns led us up a long series of stone stairs until we hit the main temple.
I wasn't able to find a heck of a lot online about the temple, but from what little I can gather, it seems that Bishamonten is the original god of war and warriors. This guy's claim to fame is bringing good luck, particularly luck with money, and the purification of evil. The tiger serves as a guardian god at the temple.
The inside of this place was ornate. The ceiling was covered with these golden lamps and tiles depicting tigers.
On our trek further up the mountain, we came to the three-story pagoda. This one was actually rather plain compared to some of the others I've seen.
We hoofed it all the way to the top and were rewarded with a sweeping view of the city. The pictures I took look just like the other pictures of the city I've posted before, so I won't put them up. I just wish the camera could photograph everything my eye sees, but it's impossible to fit the whole city in the viewfinder. I never cease to be awed by how massive it all looks.
