Yasaka Shrine is located in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, and is one of the representative shrines of Kyoto, known for its vermilion-lacquered gate.
Yasaka Shrine is the head shrine of the approximately 2,300 Yasaka shrines in Japan, and is visited by many people from Japan and abroad.
About Yasaka Shrine
Main Hall
Yasaka Shrine is said to have been founded in 656, and its main hall is designated as a National Treasure. And there are many other important cultural properties designated both inside and outside the shrine grounds.
Yasaka Shrine was once called “Gion Shrine” or “Gion Kanshinin,” and is affectionately called “Gion-san” by the local people.
The name “Gion,” which is famous as Kyoto’s representative Hanamachi (Geisha District), comes from the fact that it developed as a town in front of the “Gion Shrine”.
Yasaka Shrine can be visited even at night
At Yasaka Shrine, “Susanoo-no-Mikoto,” the god of exorcism, is enshrined as the main deity.
Yasaka Shrine also enshrines many other gods such as “Kushiinadahime-no-mikoto” and “Yahashira-no-mikoto,” which are believed to bring many benefits such as protection against bad luck, good health, prosperous business and marriage.
Gion Matsuri (Gion Festival)
The Gion Matsuri (Gion Festival), held for a month in July, is the representative festival of Yasaka Shrine.
The Gion Matsuri, which began about 1,150 years ago, is one of the three major festivals in Japan, and is a prayer for the suppression of plague and disease.
INFORMATION
NAME
Yasaka Shrine (八坂神社)
BUSINESS DAY
Every day
ADMISSION
Free
ADDRESS
625 Gionmachi Kitagawa, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto 605-0073
ACCESS
1 minute walk from Gion bus stop.
6 minute walk from Gion Shijo Station.
8 minute walk from Kyoto-kawaramachi Station.
STATION INFO
(Keihan Electric Railway) Gion Shijo Station
Keihan Main Line
(Hankyu Railway) Kyoto-kawaramachi Station
Kyoto Line
Gion (bus stop)
Kyoto City Bus
LINK