Ginkgo were often planted in the grounds of temples and shrines (and the gardens of larger homes) as they were considered a primitive sort of fire prevention.

By all accounts they saved a handful of temples that would otherwise have been consumed in flames.

Jurassic Park fanfare

SEEDS

Ginkgo seeds, called 'ginnan' (ぎんなん), are delicious.

I usually just heat them in a frying pan until the shells have browned, remove the shells, sprinkle on salt and eat.
They have a slightly bitter, but exceptionally moreish, flavour

'Ginnan' (ぎんなん) are mildly toxic, especially for children, and should be eaten in moderation (some say no more than 5 a day).

Ochikawa-jinja was thought to be connected to Tachibana-no-Kachiko (橘嘉智子), the consort of Emperor Saga.

Some have suggested that the character Ochiba-no-miya (落葉の宮/女二の宮) from 'The Tale of Genji' (源氏物語) is in some way connected to the shrine, and possibly gave her name to the site.

From the Momoyama period Iwato-sha and Ochiba-sha were placed together.

SHRINE OF FALLEN LEAVES

One of the most magical places to see ginkgo in Kyōto is at remote Iwato Ochiba-jinja (岩戸落葉神社), at the confluence of the Kiyotaki & Iwatani rivers.
It's made up of 2 shrines: Iwato-sha ("Rock Door Shrine") and Ochiba-sha ("Fallen Leaves Shrine").

Very little is known about the history of Iwato-sha & Ochiba-sha, but Ochiba-sha may well have originated as Ochikawa-jinja (堕川神社), first mentioned in 927.

If you were dropped into a teahouse at a random time of year, without access to the garden or any idea of the temperature outside, then the sweets served are your best bet for narrowing down the date...
Ichō momiji' (銀杏紅葉 'autumn-leaved ginkgo') herald deep autumn.

In the past women considered the tree symbol of fertility and breast-feeding as aerial-roots that developed in older ginkgo were known as 'chichi' (乳-breasts).

These unique structures grow down to the ground to form roots or up to sprout leaves.

For my friends in Europe - my acrylic painting "Ginkgo dance orange and green" is also available at Art Heroes (free shipping in many countries).

Für meine Freunde in Deutschland - mein Acrylgemälde "Ginkgo Tanz orange und grün" is auch bei Art Heroes erhältlich (kostenloser Versand).

https://www.artheroes.de/de/bild/Ginkgo-Tanz-orange-und-gruen/1217834/93