Drink pure and tasty sacred mountain water in Kifune Shrine
Japan cultural capital, Kyoto is always vibrant and lively with crowds of tourists looking for traditional Japanese culture. If you’re after a tranquil and calm escape in Kyoto, the photogenic Kifune Shrine in the quaint village of Kibune in the northern mountains should undoubtedly be your top choice. Like worlds away, the shrine is known for its stone steps lined with red wooden lanterns and covered by a canopy of maples, making for an incredibly photo-worthy site in all seasons. A shrine dedicated to the god of water, Kifune is also popular for its sacred waters that you can drink if feeling thirsty. Visitors to the shrine can experience the unique omikuji, or paper fortune: purchase a blank piece of paper, dip it into the water of the shrine's fountain and the written fortune will appear. After exploring the main hall and inner sanctum, you can either follow a lovely hiking trail to Kurama village on the other side of the mountain or spend time in the quaint village of Kibune with alleys of traditional styled ryokan and restaurants.