19/08/2026
๐ฆ๐๐บ๐ถ๐๐ผ๐๐ต๐ถ ๐ง๐ฎ๐ถ๐๐ต๐ฎ, ๐ข๐๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฎ ๐ฏ๐ต
When I travel, I donโt just want to see Japan. I want to experience the traditions that make it Japan. I knew that visiting shrines and temples would allow me to immerse myself in its culture. I donโt just want to see these moments through photos. I want to take my own photos with memories attached to them.
As I was searching for shrines and temples to visit in Osaka, Sumiyoshi Taisha was one of the places I wanted to visit. We went there with no knowledge of what to expect because I wanted the feeling of discovering the unknown.
And then, as we were about to enter the shrine, right in front of my eyes, I witnessed a Japanese wedding. Like, what? Am I really witnessing this? It was such a beautiful, unexpected moment, a kind of story you will never see in an itinerary.
I also saw children wearing their cute kimonos, supported by their parents as they took photos. Out of curiosity, I learned that it was Shichi-Go-San, a tradition where children visit a shrine to pray for their health, growth, and well-being. I also drew an Omikuji and received good fortune, attempted to find the Godaiki stones, and saw many nobori dedicated by individuals, families, and businesses to the shrine. With every step, there was something new to discover, and I realized that we were not simply visiting a shrine. We were witnessing traditions that are still part of Japanese life.
Half of our day was simply spent discovering Sumiyoshi Taisha. We came with no knowledge, but left with our eyes full of traditions and our hearts full of memories.
It was a wonderful day to witness a wedding, discover traditions, and experience a hidden side of Japan that no itinerary could have planned for. Looking back at this photo, I know I will remember more than what I saw. I will remember the feeling of being there and discovering something I never expected to find.
