Shimogamo Shrine: The Bridge (ND-29)

The beautiful vermillion Sori-hashi bridge is small but impressive; it is a semi-circular ring bridge that has a shimenawa rope at each end to demarcate it as “bridge for the gods,” thus preventing ordinary people from using it. Shimogamo Shrine was one of William’s favorite places, and he loved this bridge on its grounds—“a bridge that can be passed through, but not crossed.”  In the old days, people would cleanse themselves of impurities with water from the natural spring that comes out of the ground here. Seeing the clear reflection of the light blue sky, the arched bridge, the bushes and yellow gingko leaves on this small section of the Mitarashi river is purifying in and of itself.