and I've made it back to Kyoto.

"Good morning! Roll call for the women's shrine!"

Today I'm heading with my host family

to Fuji-no-mori Jinja in Kyoto.

Every year on May 5th,

the shrine opens up for a special festival

that includes a parade,

a "kakeuma" horse show

and a tour of mini shrines around the neighborhoods in Kyoto

For example,

you may recognize this spot!

Many people know Fushimi Inari

as one of the most iconic shrines in Kyoto

because of it's famous red, "Torii" gates

But this is actually only one stop along the way

during the bigger Fuji-no-mori Festial.

What should I do???

Follow us!!

It's time to get ready :).

"Lookin' good, Loretta!"

These "hapi" coats and "tabi" shoes

are the traditional costumes

for carrying the "onna mikoshi" (women's shrine)

which is what I'll be doing today.

So now it's time to get out there in the neighborhoods

and start the parade!

[[Parade Start!!]]

This is my second time participating

but my favorite part is still how connected you feel

with the whole community.

As you go through each neighborhood you can

meet with everyone,

drink with them, eat with them,

and you really feel like you're a part of something bigger.

The whole parade lasts almost the entire day

giving you a chance to see

so many of the different neighborhoods of Kyoto.

And once you've made it all around

it's time to go back to the Shrine

for a few more, different types of activities!

In addition to the "mikoshi" shrine parades

Fuji-no-mori Shrine is also famous for

it's "Kake-Uma Shinja "

or the acrobatic horse tricks

that you can go and see at the Shrine

This is a fun and exciting tradition

where trained acrobats perform tricks

while riding a galloping horse!

...and the horse is out!!!

[[He's riding while WRITING characters]]

[[Riding upside down]]

[[Riding updside down WITH a Japanese flag]]

The Fuji-no-mori Matsuri is my favorite festival in Japan.

But whether you come with friends or family

just coming out and joining the community

is a great way to spend a day in Kyoto.