Yasaka Shrine

Perfectly positioned along your city walking route, Yasaka Shrine sits at one of Kyoto’s most vibrant intersections. While it draws crowds throughout the day, the shrine truly comes alive after dark when the lanterns glow against the night sky. The evening illumination transforms the shrine into a magical sight, offering a more serene atmosphere compared to the daytime bustle. It’s well worth timing your visit for sunset to witness this beautiful transition. Whether you stop by briefly during a stroll or make it a dedicated evening visit, Yasaka Shrine makes for an unforgettable Kyoto experience at any hour.

This was one of our favorite shrines in Kyoto! The architecture here is stunning and the colors are vibrant, especially the main vermillion gate. This shrine can get a bit crowded but we never felt overwhelmed by any means. Aside from the wonderful architecture, we loved the street food offerings found inside the shrine. While wandering throughout the shrine, you’ll also find smaller shrines and altars sprinkled throughout. And the best part: Yasaka Shrine is free to enter.

They mostly say to visit early morning. I would recommend going at night. It is not crowded and you can experience the shrines lamps all turned on. It is calm and peaceful and a different experience from shrines during the day. It is also one of the few that have good lighting at night.

We visited here at night in mid-June. The main gate is perfect, it's impressive on its own, but the view through it toward the lit street was just as stunning. At night the shrine is lit and having quite cozy atmosphere. I was lucky to watch a festival performance. The kagura stage decorated with lots of lanterns looked pretty nice. There’s a park behind the shrine, but it was quite dark, so we didn’t explore it further.

A visit to Yasaka Shrine in the early morning set a peaceful tone before the Gion Matsuri began. The shrine, a key part of the festival’s spiritual roots, offered a serene atmosphere with its bright vermilion gates and lanterns, providing a glimpse into the rich traditions behind the event. By 9 am, the streets near Shijo-dori and Karasuma-dori filled with the lively energy of the Gion Matsuri. The yamaboko floats, towering and intricately designed, began their procession through the city. Each float, a work of art, reflected the craftsmanship and history of the local communities. Food stalls offering festival favorites, along with locals in yukata, added to the authentic festival experience. The festival’s spirit was felt throughout the day, and the Yoiyama evenings leading up to the main parade were equally enchanting with illuminated floats and traditional music. With its perfect blend of history, culture, and celebration, Gion Matsuri is definitely one of the must-do events in Kyoto, offering an unforgettable experience for anyone visiting the city in July.

Such a majestic and calming place amidst throngs of tourists. Just taking slow, mindless walks that will lead you to fabulous temples and altars and mini gardens and tori gates. This was the only Shrine I visited during my short, short trip to Kyoto but this place still evokes the essence and tranquillity as well as the old charm of Kyoto!

Yasaka Shrine, located in Kyoto’s Gion district, is a historic and culturally rich Shinto shrine known for its striking vermilion gate and spiritual atmosphere. The grounds are beautifully maintained, with clean paths, traditional lanterns, and seasonal floral displays that enhance the serene environment. The shrine is especially famous for hosting the Gion Matsuri, one of Japan’s most celebrated festivals. Visitors can enjoy scenic views of the surrounding gardens and nearby Maruyama Park, particularly stunning during cherry blossom season. Whether visiting for spiritual purposes or cultural exploration, Yasaka Shrine offers a peaceful yet vibrant experience in the heart of Kyoto.

A must-visit when you’re in Kyoto! Located at the heart of Gion, Yasaka Shrine is one of the most iconic Shinto shrines in Japan, known for its bright vermillion gate and elegant thatched-roof main hall. Founded over 1,350 years ago, it’s home to the famous Gion Matsuri, one of Japan’s biggest festivals. The shrine is dedicated to Susanoo-no-Mikoto, a deity believed to ward off evil and bring good health. What I loved: The stunning contrast of red architecture against the blue sky. The peaceful atmosphere, even in the busy city center. Great spot for photos, especially in spring and autumn. It’s easy to reach, surrounded by Kyoto’s charming old streets, and a perfect stop between sightseeing, shopping, or grabbing matcha treats nearby!

We didn't formally visit Yasaka Shrine, but we did walk through it a couple of times at night, going between Kiyomizu and Gion. It was a lovely place, serene and beautifully illuminated, and it seemed to capture the essence of Kyoto--this centuries-old shrine leading into the heart of Gion, a bustling neighborhood of a modern Japanese city. The buildings were striking, particularly that elevated gate at the end of Shijo-dori. There was also a cool structure, apparently some kind of stage, decorated with hundreds of paper lanterns, which get lit up at night. I gather that Yasaka Shrine is a matsuri destination, and I'll bet it's fun to go when it's busy and vibrant with festival cheer. I'd like to see that one day, but for now, I'm glad we got to enjoy our peaceful temple walks at night.

Yasaka Shrine (aka Gion Shrine) was built in 656 A.D. and is home to the Gion Festival, one of the most famous festivals in Japan celebrated every July. It's located between the Gion and Higashiyama districts in Kyoto. It's part of Maruyama Park which is a very popular spot for cherry blossoms during that late March and early April. The main hall has an inner sanctuary as well as an offering hall where you can pay to make an offering for a variety of fortunes such as life or love or beauty. This is a very busy shrine but is beautiful at both daytime and night time.

This was at the end of a major touristy street in Kyoto, and even out of season, the commercialism and crowds ruined the experience for me. While the grounds and buildings took over a large area, the scent and sounds of business replaced any spiritualism.

I highly recommend coming here for the sunset. It's so beautiful and it's free to enter. The lanterns lit up at 5pm when we visited in October. Unfortunately you can't sit on the steps if you wanted a rest. There's a bus stop right in front and it's at the end of the main street that has lots of food and souvenir shops.

I really like this shrine. It's beautiful with a lot to see, including a small food market selling cooked treats. Great bathrooms too.

Yasaka shrine is near Gion at Kyoto. There were lots of stalls "Yatai" along the approach to the shrine when I visited here at night. Snacks, sweets, etc. They created a pleasant atmosphere. Buildings of shrine were lit up in the night and they are very cool and mysterious. The stage at the center of grounds looks like the stage that appear at the scene of "Your name.". It's really cool! We can get "Goshuin" (handwritten sign and stamp of shrines and temples) at here. If you want it, you should visit the shop of shrine. It is opposite to the main building. They have 2 types of Goshuin. The limited special one which drawn a blue dragon charges 500 yen. And the regular one charges 300 yen. Details about Goshuin is below. http://60ee3107.starfree.jp/goshuin.html 京都、祇園の街のほど近くにある八坂神社に夜、訪れて来ました。 参道にはお祭りのような屋台が立ち並んでいて楽しげな雰囲気で良かったです。 また、夜の八坂神社の建物たちは神秘的な雰囲気が漂ってただただかっこよかったです。 心を奪われてしまいました。 それくらいかっこよかったです。 また、境内の真ん中辺りにあるステージは、「君の名は。」のワンシーンを思い出させる造りで、映画を見た事のある人なら、ちょっとニヤリと出来るポイントかと思います。 御朱印は2種類ありました。 授与所で頂戴出来ます。 通常の御朱印と青龍が描かれた限定の御朱印の2種類で、前者は300円、後者は500円です。 また、日中はその場で手書きしてくれますが、その時間外で社務所が開いている時間の場合は既に和紙に書かれた奉紙での対応になります。 御朱印については下記のリンク先にまとめてあります。 http://60ee3107.starfree.jp/goshuin.html

If you go to So. Cal., you have to visit Disneyland. Same for Yasaka Shrine in Kyoto. Yes, there is deep cultural history here but also a lot of kitch, food stalls, fortune tellers, wishing stations, etc. The biggest deal about this place is the orange arches, or torii (鳥居, literally bird abode, Japanese pronunciation: [to.i.i]) is a traditional Japanese gate most commonly found at the entrance of or within a Shinto shrine, where it symbolically marks the transition from the mundane to the sacred. People and businesses spend up to a million dollars buying these things. Crazy marketing but fun to walk through the park. For the food, we stopped by a mountain top udon restaurant with a killer view from the balcony seats. Fun to grab a bowl of soup or hot pot here. Lots of walking trails. Make sure you don't wear the wooden flip flop shoes up here.

I was in Kyoto and according to online, Yasaka shrine is a must visit landmark. The shrine is huge and I was surprised to see people dressed in Kimono here. The shrine is close to the MRT and also the old historic town, Gion in Kyoto. When you enter there are people selling snacks and food. They are there daily. The shrine has multiple parts. Do pull on the rope to ring the bell for good luck. Also this is a great place for picture taking. There is a front and back entrance.

Underrated and not very touristy, must see. If you're in Gion, this is the Shrine at the end of the main street. There's a big gate and then about 30 stairs to walk up. Once you do, you're in the main shrine complex and there's plenty of great photo opportunities. I went around 8 at night and there were not many people at all. In fact, it was pretty scary walking around the area because there's some wild monkey's that will come out as well. Nice lanterns light up at night making for a great photo op and there's several alley ways and other paths to explore. In my experience, it was not very touristy and was very pleasant. I can not say if it's like that day in and day out, however. I certainly enjoyed visiting here more than most of the other spots in Kyoto.

This Gion shrine is one of the most famous in Kyoto. We walked up the steps and many monuments & shrines. Vendors were selling snack foods & blessings. This beautiful Shinto Shrine was built in 656 AD. We saw a wedding ceremony move from the temple to the reception hall & many dressed in traditional Japanese clothing.

This was one of the first shrines I visited on the same day upon arrival coming from Okinawa, Japan. Yasaka Shrine is a definite must see in Kyoto, its pretty at night. Very well lighted, but not too much light where it can obscure the peacefulness within the shrine itself for having too much light pollution. Namm sayinn.. How to get to: It fairly easy accessible and very noticeable, its within walking distance from Downtown Kyoto, where all the shops are located and restaurants. And the flood light is shining at the shrine, and is very easy to spot. But once in the shrine, dont expect much light, except some light to preserve the scenery. What to do upon entry: Entry is free! But donation is accepted. Long story short, please keep conversation volume at a minimum level, people are praying/meditating. Its a shrine after all! Other than that, enjoy. And please use the serving spoon to cleanse your hands as provided at the well.

This shrine is so packed during festivals, crowds come from all over the places.

This shrine is awesome!!!! There are plenty of Japanese shops to see along the way. Also, you get that small town / old Town feel when walking through the streets to get to this shrine. I enjoyed looking at the Japanese style buildings and architecture around this shrine. There were many cherry blossoms in bloom near the shrine which was also a treat. Yes this shrine is busy, but I recommend it because you get away from the city, and you can see the older style architecture.

Yasaka-jo is a beautiful and huge shrine that wasn't too crowded when my friends and I visited. There are food vendors inside that sell interesting yakitori items like crab and beef sticks that sell for around 500 yen each. There are also ice cream vendors, so it's nice if you want something refreshing on a hot day. The west entrance is beautiful, it's marked by a huge and ornate red gate that's perfect for taking pictures on the staircase. It's a good meet up spot too since it's hard to miss. There's a lot of things to do here as a tourist! There's a small shrine inside that's supposed to be prayed at for better love luck. As is typical with other shrines, there's a purifying fountain where you can cleanse your hands before proceeding further inside. It's a great place for pictures, so I'd highly recommend it if you have the time to visit.

One of the most crowded shrines we visited. This garishly colored site is at the end of Shijo Dori and was mobbed with Gion tourists. We found it odd that there were lots of food vendors set up on the temple grounds, as well as vending machines! All toilets here were the squat kind and you have to buy toilet paper for 100¥ from a machine outside, so don't miss it! Overall, you can check this one out if you are in Gion anyway, as long as you don't mind some mayhem.

八坂神社 Yaska Shrine is located close to Gion so we ended up coming here for a walk after lunch. Bright Orange and Colourfully shrine is definitely making the visit quite delightful. Since there are other smaller shrines inside that one can wish for beauty, wealth and all other wishes that normal people like me would desire. Of course, my sister was quite intrigued with the Beauty shrine and ended up spent most of her time there praying! From Yasaka Shrine, one can walk through to Maruyama Park which is beautiful and quiet and then all the way up to Chion-In Temple.

We accidentally stumbled into Yasaka Shrine on our way to Kiyomizu Dera and didn't realize it until we noticed there was a lot of standard temple business going on. I quick look at my map showed that we were in Yasaka Shrine, which meant I could get another stamp for my book! There is a lot to do at the shrine - a larger variety of offerings and wishing methods than other shrines we've been to. Be sure to pay 100yen to get your fortune - tie your fortune to the wall if it's a bad one and you're rejecting it. But take it if it's a good one - you never know what good luck it may bring you!

Located in the heart of downtown Kyoto, this is a must see place if you are visiting Kyoto. Its got a lot of tourists for its beauty but you dont feel that crowded as the area is huge. It's connected to beautiful park behind so you can take a stroll there too. My recommendation will be to dress up in rental Kimono and take lots of pictures (as we did)!! Do try Omikuji(おみくじ), a Japanese traditional fortune teller there. Tried few times over years and i thought they were quite accurate when I look back. haha

Yasaka Shrine is the centerpiece of the Gion District, hence its nickname the Gion Shrine. Although the shrine isn't open 24/7 like Gion, the lighted shrine gate is especially beautiful at nighttime. However, especially compared to the more impressive Heian Shrine and Fushimi Inari Shrine, Yasaka Shrine is rather average in its presentation and the grounds is strangely not maintained as well as it should with its cultural significance as the center of the famous Gion Festival. The shrine is a great place to visit if you are planning to explore the Gion District, but it isn't somewhere that is worth going out of your way for.

This is another great shrine to visit in Kyoto. What really struck me was how bright and red/orange everything is! This shrine is also part of a much bigger park/garden area, so if you're able to, I would recommend walking through more than just the Yasaka shrine area. There is a big open area in front of the shrine where they sell little trinkets and snack foods. There are also many restaurants and shops nearby the area if you're looking to extend your time there.

Easy and fun shrine to visit in front of Gion. It's free, and you can walk from there up to several streets to Kiyomizudera.

Gorgeous shrine at the edge of Kyoto! This is a place to wander, relax, take a few photos, and enjoy some quiet time in Kyoto. Afterwards you can wander the small shops and restaurants nearby, and extend your fun for hours.

We visited when it was dark and there's something both eerie and spectacular about a shrine at night. It's not as crowded, but it is darker in certain areas of the shrine while other sections are brightly lit with lanterns.

In the middle of it all! Yasaka Shrine is truly in the middle of it all. It's between the Gion and Higashimaya districts, and so by default, a great shrine to visit on the way to one place or the other! It's also very hard to miss, being a very bright, beautiful, and colorful shrine, located at the end of Shijo Dori, a major shopping street in Gion. A suggested walking itinerary would be to start in Gion, head towards Yasaka Shrine, explore and continue walking through Maruyama Park towards Kodaiji Temple. There's a fun little challenge throughout the streets between Yasaka Shrine and Kodaiji Temple, where you can touch several Buddhist statues and altar objects to earn merit. Look for the pink signs. Fun and educational for young and adult kids alike. :)

Standing on popular and bustling Gion area. If you walk along the Shijyo street from Kawaramachi to the east, you will astonished at scarlet pillars of the entrance. Very showy and outstanding. Adjacent to Maruyama park, it is must for tourists. Also famous for Gion festival (very magnificent and animated) as one of the largest festivals in Kyoto. I've not seen the parade of Hoko yet. I've visited Gion area on the previous night of the parade called "Yoiyama" , when the area was too jam-packed to stroll freely. Besides Gion festival annual events are held, so please check it on the website. Taking a walk in the gardens of Maruyama park adjacent to the shrine is also good!

The Yasaka shrine is one the east end of Shijyo street. It is called "Yasaka-san" or "Gion san" from local people. The red orange gate is symbolic of this shrine. During the Gion festival, some of the important ceremony is done in this shrine. This Yasaka Shrine has "Susano Oh" and his wife as the enshroud deity. Also there are several small shrines inside the Yasaka shrine where people come to pray for beauty, good relationships and love. The best time to be here is the middle of April, July 16th, 17th and 24th, and during Autumn. In middle of April, there are many cherry blossoms blooming in the temple, and there some lanterns being lighted during this time. July 16th, 17th and 24th are the day when the Yamaboko (festival float mounted with a decorative halberd) will be pulled around Oike street to Shijyo streets. The ceremony for pulling around the Yamaboko will be at Yasaka during this day. During Autumn will be nice to see the red or yellow colored leafs with the collaboration with the shrine. It is fun to sea the color and the atmosphere change in Yasaka shrine.

A beautiful shrine with many shops along the street that leads up to the front gate. Also very beautiful at night when the hundreds of lanterns come on to light the shrine. The road leading out the south gate towards Kiyomizu-dera Temple goes through the famous Higashiyama District where the best preserved historic buildings & shops are. Quite a long walk so be prepared. It's well worth it though.

Well kept clean and easy to walk. They are doing some construction to fix some parts. There are a lot of great food vendors and some crafts. You should spend at least an hour but better two hours here.

One of the smaller shrines I've been to. I only recommend it because it's the only night time shrine I have been too. There was only one food cart stand and it was pretty deserted when we went. Still an interesting stop, but I wouldn't go out of my way to go to it. I recommend seeing it if you're in the area already and if you have time. Not a lot else was going on around the shrine, unless you walk down a few blocks.