Kitano Tenman Shrine

Reaching Kitano Tenman Shrine takes a bit of effort, but it’s absolutely worth it. If you walk all the way up from Sannomiya Station, you’ll pass through Kobe’s charming historical district and be rewarded with a stunning view of the city skyline and ocean once you reach the top! Along the way, you’ll come across a unique retro-style Starbucks and several historical landmarks like the Weathercock House, making the journey as enjoyable as the destination. Another nice thing about Kitano Tenman Shrine is that it’s usually less crowded than the more centrally located Ikuta Shrine, offering a calmer and more peaceful visit. Whether you’re into history, city views, or quiet moments of reflection, this mountain side shrine perfectly captures the charm of Kobe’s Kitano area!

A bit of a climb but such sites require climbing stairs and hills. The viewing pleasure must be earned not given. Free entry and lively city views. The surrounding area is nice as well.

Kitano Tenman Shrine is one of Kobe’s major Shinto shrines, located in an unusual location of Kitano Ijinkan, the place associated with foreign residences from the late Meiji and early Taisho eras. The shrine has been constructed in the year 1180, while in the year 1724 a central hall was added. The shrine fortunately did not suffer any damage during the second world war or the Great Hanshin Earthquake in 1995. The shrine is at the end of a hiking trail, starting from Sannomiya Station and passing through the streets of Kitano. If you visit in summer, make sure you carry couple of water bottles to prevent dehydration.

This shrine is beautiful and one of the sacred places in Kobe. There is no admission fee. So lucky to visit here because I felt peaceful while I was there. For the stone steps are so stiff, don't take a photo while you are climbing for your safety. Please don't make noise because there are Japanese local people who take care of it. For your information, in front of the main gate there is a information center. In that building, there is a washroom. Enjoy.

Amasing centuries-old hilltop temple reached by a long set of steps. When You walk up the steps You can enjoy in beautiful view of the city skyline. Calm and sacred atmosphere, rainy day, You can feel how it was once at that hill. There is no comission fee, only if You wath to enter in small garden where sakura just begins (first days of march 2025.) So nice experience.

In the early December, you can see a lot of beautiful red leaves beside the little shrine, the only pity is goshuin paper only.

A beautiful temple deep inside quiet neighborhood.

I came here on a cold winter Monday. Was able to get away from the tourists in downtown and to enjoy a tranquil moment. Had a good view of Kobe downtown too. The shrine here is famous among locals on prayers for good study results ~ Located north of the sannomiya station, I recommend here for those who have time and won't mind to climb the stairs. It certainly worth the energy to climb up !

It's a small shrine on the hill, which requires a bit stair climbing effect to get there. The view is great on the top overlooking the kitano area.

I was sometimes hanging about this Kitano-cho area, but it was my first time to come here, Kitano Tenman Shrine. At the first sight of the Trii or a gate of a shrine and the long steps to the main hall, I hesitated to pay a visit here. However I decided to go up the stairs to pray for a success in my business. I passed a young beautiful woman of the foreigner in the middle of stairs. She talked to me, "Konnichiwa (hello)", in Japanese, so I was glad to exchange greetings with her in Japanese. She seemed to come here alone. I thought it cool for foreigners to visit sightseeing places not in a group but alone. I took my breath after arriving at the main hall. Around the top of the stairs I found a stone washing basin called Chozubachi. I purified my hands with water. A facet was unique in the shape of carp, which is called "Kanai Koi". Kanai means "realize" and Koi means carp. If you sprinkle water on this stone carp, your wishes will be said to be realized. Close to the basin, water fortune telling was placed. It is a sheet of paper in which one's fortunes are printed in light shade of ink. One's fortune appears after the sheet of paper is soaked in the water of the basin. I consulted a fortune telling before in Kibune shrine in Kyoto, and I chose one sheet of papers here, too. I cost 200 yen, double of ordinary oracles. The papers were rolled so that I could not read the letters in advance. The oracles in Kibune shrine were not rolled so a friend of mine read one in advance and chose a great luck. My result was: as for wishes, if I am not careless, they will gradually come true. As for physical condition, I have to get rid of my tiredness within that day. As for shopping, if I am in a hurry to buy something, it costs high. As for travel, don't make a racket. Etc...It's funny!! I am going to Tokyo to join some yelp events, so I have to take care of myself. Close to the basin, a medium-sized stage is located. I don't know whether Kagura or sacred dance and music or Noh, classical drama with face masks is performed here. A bronze image of cow is also enshrined nearby. Cow is said to be an errand of a deity. This Shinto shrine has every divine favor other than the study accomplishment. When I am wandering around Kyoto, I come across some shrine or temple, but it is rare to encounter a shrine or temple in Kobe. It was fun to pray for good luck here in Kobe.