Miyake Hachimangu Shrine

On the last day of our stay in Kyoto, I visited the Shinto shrine Miyake Hachimangu Shrine—a lesser-known spot in the city that we discovered by chance. This shrine features statues of pigeons and various items (ema plaques and figurines) adorned with pigeon imagery, which immediately caught my attention as a fan of all things pigeon-related. You can reach the shrine on foot from Hachiman-mae Station. I was delighted to see a cute postal pigeon illustration on the wall as soon as I exited the train, confirming I was on the right path. The shrine is dedicated to the deity Hachiman, the protector of warriors, whose cult is closely associated with pigeons. In mythology, it is believed that this god could transform into a golden pigeon (an interesting fact: "hato" translates to "pigeon" in Japanese). In Japanese culture, pigeon imagery serves as a talisman for family protection, especially for children. People come here to pray for their child's health and academic success. According to ancient legends, pigeons were thought to eat "mushi"—parasitic creatures causing colic and other illnesses in infants—which explains the abundance of pigeon symbolism in the shrine. The place itself is very peaceful and pleasant; there are few tourists, allowing you to fully enjoy the shrine's architecture and natural surroundings. Additionally, a large number of cooing divine messengers roam the grounds, and you can feed them by purchasing food on-site. The birds are quite accustomed to the attention and treats, so they will eagerly approach you for food. As with many shrines in Japan, you can buy a figurine of the animal symbolizing the shrine and leave it there while making a wish. Naturally, I purchased a small pigeon figurine, which contained a message in Japanese—a language I don't study, making its meaning impossible to decipher. Well, I hope Google Translate didn't lie about the "great fortune" and "catching the wind with the dragon's clouds," whatever that might mean. 😊