On Sunday, we went over to my MIL's to spend some time with her. I had seen an article in which Shimogamo shrine was a world heritage. I asked Satoshi if I had ever been there and he said, "no". So, the three of us hopped in a taxi and made our way to Shimogamo shrine.
When we arrived we were amazed to see so many people. Apparently, it was a festival to celebrate the full moon. 
They were having a special exhibition of the kitchen area which prepared the sacred food offerings, so we paid our admission of 500 yen (about US$5) and explored the area. In the area, they showed the kitchen and tools used to prepare the food offerings, and there was also a carriage that had golden wheel spokes.
There was also a wedding hall. These shoes out front were for the priests (so shiny!).We then went out the front gate and saw all the stalls with different wares like sake (rice wine), okaki (rice crackers) and mitarashi dango.
The mitarashi dango was made by a well-known shop in Kyoto, Kamo mitarashi-chaya. A line was forming and I jumped in as soon as I saw the dango.
Only 105 yen (about US$1) for a stick. The sauce was not too sweet, actually kind of savory (shoyu-sugary). Since they were still warm when we got home, we ate them before our dinner...Delicious.
It was a great day, plus we got to see the moon after dinner.Shimogamo Shrine
59 Izumigawa-cho
Shimogamo,
Sakyo-ku, Kyoto
Phone: 075.781.4722
(You can see more photos on Tamakikat's blog, I didn't realize it but we were at the same place at almost the same time!)
