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As the source of Kyoto’s main river, the Kamogawa, is near here, Kibune Shrine goes back to the early days of Kyoto, and is the place to pray for a steady but not excessive supply of water. The Emperor in the ancient capital would send a rider on a black horse (representing rain clouds) up to Kibune Jinja to pray for rain when the crops needed it, and a white horse to pray for respite from the deluges of rainy season.

Above the magnificent lantern-lined steps, the small shrine is under some reconstruction now, but look for the cast-metal horses decorating Kibune shrine.

More about kibune on alive in kyoto.
kibune town site (Japanese).