A place story by Momo
Shinto shrine
About this place
A National Treasure, four entrances, and Gion Matsuri’s mikoshi ✨
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About 1 million people visit Yasaka Shrine during the first three days of the New Year—that’s the second-largest hatsumode crowd in Kyoto Prefecture, after Fushimi Inari Taisha. Quite a number, right? 😳 The shrine sits at the east end of Shijo-dori, and you can enter from all four directions. Its gates stay open, so you can visit 24 hours a day.
The National Treasure main sanctuary, where the deity is enshrined, is a standout. Its main sanctuary and worship hall—the hall where visitors pray—sit beneath one irimoya-style roof, with extra eaves around the sides. This style is called Gion-zukuri, and the building has the largest floor area of any shrine building. Tokugawa Ietsuna rebuilt it in 1654. At the west end of Shijo-dori, Nishi Romon is an Important Cultural Property.
Look for the lantern-hung Buden, also an Important Cultural Property, and Mikoshi-ko, which houses the three mikoshi used in Gion Matsuri. Mio-mae-sha has beauty water springing up in front, while Maruyama Park, known for its weeping cherry blossoms, borders the shrine grounds to the east 🌸 Which way will you enter?
Four ways into the grounds
You can enter Yasaka Shrine from the north, south, east, or west, and visit at night too 🌙 Nishi Romon, an Important Cultural Property, stands at the west end of Shijo-dori. Gion-Shijo Station on the Keihan Main Line is about a 5-minute walk away; Kyoto-kawaramachi Station on the Hankyu Kyoto Line is about a 10-minute walk. From Kyoto City Bus, get off at the Gion stop, right by the shrine 🚶
The National Treasure sanctuary
The National Treasure main sanctuary and worship hall share one irimoya-style roof, with extra eaves around the sides—a style known as Gion-zukuri. It has the largest floor area of any shrine building. The enshrined deities are Susanoo-no-Mikoto in the central sanctuary, Kushinadahime-no-Mikoto in the east sanctuary, and the Eight Pillar Princes in the west sanctuary. That last name refers collectively to Susanoo-no-Mikoto’s eight children 🙏
Lanterns and beauty water
Lanterns donated by geisha-district okiya and nearby ryotei—traditional Japanese restaurants—hang in Buden, an Important Cultural Property. Mikoshi-ko, also an Important Cultural Property, houses the three mikoshi used in Gion Matsuri. Mio-mae-sha has beauty water springing up right in front, so add it to your wander 💧
New Year and Gion Matsuri
About 1 million people come for hatsumode during the first three days of the New Year. During Gion Matsuri, from July 17 to 24, the three mikoshi are enshrined in Mikoshi-ko at Shijo Otabisho 🏮 Maruyama Park borders the shrine grounds to the east and is known for its weeping cherry blossoms. Pick your timing, then choose which of the four directions to enter.
TripNaru photos