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Trees will “breathe” with light and sound as their beauty takes visitors’ breath away.
One of the core beliefs of Shintoism is that divinity exists in all aspects of the natural environment. Meanwhile, one of the core beliefs of travelers is that sightseeing is more enjoyable if you’re not sweating profusely. Thankfully, these two concepts are about to dovetail beautifully as part of a public art display at one of Kyoto’s most important Shinto shrines.
teamLab, the same group of creative artists who brought children’s doodles to life with itsSketch Aquarium installation, is back with another interactive mix of emotion and technology, set to open this summer at the Kamomioya Shrine and adjacent Tadasu no Mori primeval forest. And while Japan’s former capital is notoriously hot and steamy during the summer months, the fact that this is a nighttime exhibit means you’ll be able to enjoy it after much of the day’s sweltering heat has dissipated.
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The first segment of the two-part exhibit is titled Resonating Trees Kamomioya Jinja Tadasu no Mori. As visitors walk through the UNESCO World Heritage-certified woods on their approach to the shrine, trees will light up as they draw near. Accompanied by an ethereal-sounding chime, the lights will change color, in turn affecting the hues of those around them, almost as if the entire forest is breathing as a single living being.
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After passing through the shrine’s two-story gate, visitors will find themselves in the second area, Resonating Spheres, in which one of the shrine’s courtyards is filled with spheres that emit light and sound when tapped.
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The exhibition is scheduled to run from August 17 to 31. Admission is free, and the lights will be on from 6 to 9:30 p.m., meaning you can stop by before dinner or after and regardless of whether or not you’ve got any cash left in your pocket after paying the check.
Shrine information
Kamomioya Shrine (part of Shimogamo Shrine) / 賀茂御祖神社 （下鴨神社）
Address: Kyoto-fu, Kyoto-shi, Sakyo-ku, Shimagamo Izumigawacho 59
京都府京都市左京区下鴨泉川町59
Shrine websiteEvent website