四月是日本櫻花盛開的季節，當地民眾會成群在櫻花樹下賞花、飲酒、野餐，各國遊客也被吸引前來欣賞花團錦簇的美景。歷史悠久的京都，有許多優美、靜謐的神社，在櫻花時節更是別具風情！
MP3音檔 (按右鍵可下載聽)：http://www.heliopolis.com.tw/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/cherry-tree_20160408.mp3
Takako is introducing her friend Jeff to a Shinto shrine in Kyoto
Takako: This is the famous Yasaka Shrine, where the Gion Matsuri got its start.
Jeff: I’d love to see more. Can we go inside?
Takako: Yes, but there are a few rituals you need to observe when visiting a shrine.
Jeff: Of course. I wouldn’t want to offend any of the worshipers.
Takako: OK. After we pass through the torii, we purify our minds and bodies by performing temizu, where we rinse our hands and mouths with water.
Jeff: Sounds easy enough. And after that?
Takako: When we get to the shrine, we make a small donation before we ring the bell. Then, we bow twice, clapping twice, and bowing once more after our prayers. After that, we can find out what our fortunes will be by getting o-mikuji.
Jeff: What’s that?
Takako: O-mikuji are fortunes written on strips of paper that you draw randomly.
Jeff: Oh, like fortune cookies—sounds like fun!
