I thought 1130pm would be the best time to go...

I thought 1130pm would be the best time to go to the shrine. There'd be no one there to look and wonder where I came from, or to judge if I fumble...I was relatively sure my cold had passed so it seemed a good time. I brought water to wash my hands with because I was scared to turn on the tap. I made my way all the way up the steps and approached the shrine. The lights came on and I jumped, but managed to put in my donation and bow and clap. I took a seat on top of the steps and just stared and tried to take in my private moment. It was loud out, acorns falls on tin roofs and leaves dropping. And then I heard something and turned around and way way down, past the gates, was a man bowing to the shrine. He saw me as he rose and we both were noticeably startled to see the other one. I adjusted on my seat and looked back at the shrine, trying to hide how much he had scared me. I checked to see if he was coming up, and he was gone. I stayed a little longer and left. Of course someone would show up at 1130pm. I was so far up (this photo is taken at the bottom of the steps....and he was past the gates) that I'm somewhat sure he might think he saw a ghost. He was in some kind of uniform so maybe he was a cop. I hope he went home as shocked as I was, with a story to tell too 😅 ⛩ ⛰ 🌑 #日本 #十二所神社 #shrine #ShintoShrine #Japan #神社

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