
Yoshida Shrine is an old shrine located on Mt. Yoshida on the east side of Kyoto University campus.
It is usually the coldest time of the year, but this year was somehow bearable, perhaps due to the mild winter.

Yoshida Shrine is located northeast of the Kyoto Imperial Palace and is famous as the guardian deity of Kyoto. On this day, many worshippers rush to the shrine from all over Kyoto. The long approach to the shrine is lined with stalls, providing a festive atmosphere.
However, the crowds were less crowded than in front of the Corona Disaster. This may be because this year's Setsubun was on a weekend and it was past 8:00 p.m. when I arrived at the site.

After visiting the main shrine, I enjoyed a freshly brewed new sake from Matsui Shuzo, Fuji Chitose!
It was a fresh sake with a slight oaky aroma that warmed my stomach at once. I also had another glass of Nigorizake (cloudy sake), which was even better.

After this, I went to Daigengu, the birthplace of the Setsubun Pilgrimage, located at the back of the main shrine! Gods from all over Japan are enshrined in the branch shrine, so I also visited the gods of the areas affected by the Noto Peninsula earthquake.

Night view of Kyoto city from Mount Yoshida. The west direction is a suburb, so there are a little less city lights.
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