京都最古の神社、上賀茂神社へ参拝しました。広大な境内に一歩足を踏み入れると、背筋が伸びるような神聖な空気感に包まれます。
今回の楽しみの一つが、神馬（しんめ）の「神山号（こうやまごう）」に会うこと！日曜祝日などの限られた日にしかお目にかかれませんが、真っ白な毛並みが本当に美しく、人懐っこい表情に心が洗われました。お供えのニンジンを差し上げると、美味しそうに食べてくれる姿がとても可愛らしかったです。
こちらは馬との縁が非常に深い神社としても有名です。5月の葵祭に先駆けて行われる「競馬会神事（くらべうまえしんじ）」の舞台でもあり、境内には神馬舎があります。運良く神馬の神山号に拝謁できましたが、その高潔な佇まいはまさに神の使い。
気が満ちている場所なので、ゆっくりと時間をかけて参拝することをおすすめします。神馬の出社日は公式サイトで確認してから行くとスムーズです。歴史の重みと自然のエネルギーを同時に感じられる、京都屈指のパワースポットです。
I visited Kamigamo Shrine, Kyoto's oldest shrine. Stepping into the vast grounds, I was enveloped in a sacred atmosphere that made me stand tall.
One of the highlights of my visit was meeting the sacred horse, "Kouyamago"! While you can only see him on select days, such as Sundays and holidays, his pure white fur was truly beautiful, and his friendly expression was truly refreshing. It was adorable to see him greedily munching on the carrots I offered him.
This shrine is also famous for its deep connection with horses. It is also the site of the "Kurabeumae Shinji," a ritual held prior to the Aoi Festival in May, and the shrine grounds house a sacred horse stable. I was lucky enough to have an audience with the sacred horse, Kouyamago, whose noble demeanor truly befits a messenger of the gods.
Because this place is filled with energy, I recommend taking your time to visit. To ensure a smooth visit, check the official website to see when the sacred horse is in operation. This is one of Kyoto's most powerful spots, where you can feel the weight of history and the energy of nature at the same time.
