Kyoto Yasaka Shrine lanterns

Besides the usual coin offerings received in the wooden saisenbako boxes, the Shinto shrines also receive more substantial donations, such as sake barrels, rice, torii gates (at the Inari shrines) or paper lanterns.

At the Yasaka Shrine in Kyoto, the wooden stage used for kagura dances is decorated with a large number of white paper lanterns, all inscribed with the name of the donor. In the evening, when all these lanterns are lit up, they create a truly spectacular image...