Yasaka Shrine

Yasaka Shrine Review | A Radiant Gateway to Kyoto’s Spirit Yasaka Shrine stands as one of Kyoto’s most iconic sanctuaries—an entrance not only to Gion, but to the city’s timeless spiritual heartbeat. In your photos, the shrine glows under the soft golden light of late afternoon, transforming its vivid vermilion gates and sweeping black roofs into a scene that feels both majestic and warmly inviting. Approaching the grand Rōmon Gate, its bold red pillars rise against the blue sky, immediately capturing attention. Visitors ascend the stone steps with a sense of anticipation, passing beneath the gate’s intricate details and into a world where Kyoto’s centuries-old traditions still breathe. The contrast between the shrine’s vibrant colors and the natural greens behind it creates a striking harmony—lively yet serene. Inside the precinct, Yasaka Shrine becomes a lively tapestry of worshippers, travelers, and families. The main hall, with its elegant curved roof and glowing orange beams, stands illuminated by the golden hour light. The shadows of people in kimono stretch across the stone courtyard, adding a gentle touch of ceremonial beauty. It is a place where everyday moments blend naturally with spiritual devotion. The shrine’s famous lantern pavilion, adorned with rows of white lanterns printed with the names of Kyoto businesses, shines like a constellation by day. It becomes the symbolic heart of Yasaka Shrine—an elegant fusion of community, tradition, and light. In your photos, this structure rises gracefully against the open sky, reminding visitors of the shrine’s central role in the Gion Festival and Kyoto’s cultural heritage. What makes Yasaka Shrine so captivating is its balance between stillness and energy. It is a sanctuary where prayers are whispered quietly, yet it is also full of movement—pilgrims ringing bells, groups taking photos, families enjoying the gentle breeze. Despite the crowds, the atmosphere retains a sense of purity and calm, as if the shrine itself absorbs and softens the noise of the world outside. Walking through Yasaka Shrine feels like stepping into Kyoto’s living soul. Its colors, sounds, and architecture speak not only of Shinto tradition, but of the way the old capital continues to embrace its past while welcoming people from everywhere. As the sun sets behind the roofs and the lanterns begin to glow, you leave with a sense of warmth—of having touched something deeply rooted yet wonderfully alive.

Beautiful shrine and a must-visit place in Kyoto. The enterance is filled with local vendors and foodstalls. One can try out all the japanese street food here and get yourself some souvenirs too. The shrine itself is a quiet and calm place and you can stroll through the park too which can be a beautiful sight in the spring season and fall season.

Located in Gion District in Kyoto, Yasaka Shrine is beautiful and the sorrunding Marayuma Park offers respite in the hustle and bustle of Kyoto. You can see people wearing yukata. It's a pity that I haven't the opportunity to dress up. A perfect place to chill after visiting Fushimi Inari, Nijo Castle and Arashiyama.

We visited as part of our walking tour in Kyoto and enjoyed our time wandering through all the beautiful areas near the shrine. The entrance is quite impressive leading you into a large area filled with many smaller shrines and walking paths that lead you through the park. The entire area is a peaceful place to spend time away from the crowded street of Kyoto. Overall, quite beautiful and worth a visit.

Beautiful especially when they light the lanterns. No photos allowed according to the signs but everyone (everyone…) was taking pictures and people go there and to the nearby park wearing kimonos especially for photo sessions. I would prefer if there weren’t all those stalls selling smelly food and souvenirs, it would be even prettier (especially since there are already a ton of cafés, restaurants and stores on your way to the sanctuary).

Popular temple in Kyoto. A little too popular when we went and you really had to have your camera and pose ready to get a good picture between all the people. Have been told that the lanterns are lit up during the night and moon festival has events. Good to look up for start of October.

Yasaka Shrine is among the most renowned and frequently visited shrines in Kyoto, affectionately referred to by locals as “Gion-san.” The shrine grounds are a highlight for visitors, showcasing elegant architecture and distinctive sub-shrines. In the evening, the grounds are beautifully illuminated, with glowing lanterns creating a truly enchanting atmosphere. An evening stroll through the shrine is therefore highly recommended.

This is a must if you are in this area. There are a few tourism spots here but the Yasaka Shrine is unique with amazing lantern display. I wish I could spent more time here, or came during the night with less tourists and beautiful lit lantern dispaly which is so photogenic.

Beautiful Shinto shrine located in the Gion district of Kyoto. Yasaka-kinja shrine is also home to the Gion Festival which is a summer ritual that occurs in July. This shrine includes a few buildings, gates, main hall, and is also at the edge of Maruyama Park. This is a popular destination during the cherry blossom season, which is mid-March to April. Entrance to the grounds is free and open 24/7. I came by during the daytime and noticed numerous vendor stalls along the path to the shrine. I wish I visited during the twilight hours to fully experience the glow of the lantern lights. This shrine has a high foot traffic and the steps at the Nishiromon gate is a popular photo stop. This shrine hosts numerous festivals throughout the year. Visitors can purchase various amulets/charms at the shrine.

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.

Yasaka Shrine at night is magical with the lanterns lit up. There was also an immersive Dandelion art display this summer, which made it even more special at night. The shrine is beautifully lit in the evening, giving it a peaceful yet vibrant atmosphere, and the illuminated Dandelion installation added a unique, modern touch against the historic backdrop. Strolling through the grounds at night felt calming and serene with fewer crowds, soft lighting, and a chance to appreciate the shrine in a completely different way than during the day. The shrine is located in a very touristy and busy street and I see other reviews complain about the noise level during the day, so I'd recommend visiting in the evening if you can. Especially in the hot and humid summers, a night stroll may be more enjoyable!

The place was so nixe at night. There was also a performance. Not sure if this was special or the usual

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.

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 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

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

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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

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.

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. :)

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.

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.