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Edited by: Declan Murphy Recommended: Suggested Itineraries Favorite Kyoto moments... Best ways to get there Kyoto Photogallery Newsgroups: fj.rec.travel.japan, Alt-FAQ Bulletin Boards: Fun/Clubs/nightlife Accommodation/Discounts

"Evening began to fall. "The Gion music will soon begin," said the elder daughter. "I can't imagine living any place where I would be out of earshot of the Gion music in summer." That rules out the rest of the world, and even most of Kyoto, other than a few square blocks."
Alex Kerr, Lost Japan

Introduction

Yasaka (Gion) Shrine | Gion Festival | Maruyama park | Pleasure quarters | Pontocho | Teramachi | Shijo Street Shopping

Yasaka (Gion) Shrine

At the eastern end of Shijo-dori (4th street) bordering Maruyama park, this shrine is open 24 hours and is one of the most important and popular shrines in Kyoto. Popularly known by the locals as Gion-san, it is dedicated to the Shinto deities Susa-no-o (brother of Amaterasu Omikami - and wayward "black sheep" of the mythological progenitors of the Imperial family), his spouse Inadahime-no-Mikoto and their mythological children (all 8 of them). The important thing to remember is that Susa-no-o is regarded as the Shinto god of medicine. In the year 869, thousands prayed to Susa-no-o for relief from an epidemic - an event that led to the Gion festival (see below).

Ro-mon: The Ro-mon is a two-story gateway with bright vermilion posts and white walls at the top of the steps leading up from Shijo-dori. It is built in the Muromachi Period (1338-1573) style. There are Shinto guardians on both sides of the entrance protecting the grounds from evil spirits. Just past the gate there are Korean stone lion dogs known as koma-inu protecting the stairs that lead to the main part of the shrine.

Haiden: The Haiden (Offertory building) is on the left of the central area. Opposite it is a roofed ceremonial stage for religious ceremonies and a roofed water basin for purification. Most of the buildings here date from a reconstruction in 1654, including storage sheds for the Mikoshi (see Gion Festival below).

Honden: The Honden (spirit hall) is the most important building. 21 X 17.3 meters (approximately 69 X 57 feet) in size, this single story building has a wooden shingle roof that is half hipped/half gabled. Worshippers pray before the altar after waking up the god with a rattle of the pan shaped bells at the front of the building.

Yasaka (Gion) Shrine | Gion Festival | Maruyama park | Pleasure quarters | Pontocho | Teramachi | Shijo Street Shopping

1: From Kyoto Station:

Take the XXXX subway line to XXXX Station or take the #206 or #207 bus to the Gion bus stop.

2: From Okazaki:

Take the Kaisoku (Express) from JR Okazaki Station to JR Mikawa Anjo (10 minutes) or JR Nagoya Station (28 minutes). Change to a west bound Kodama shinkansen. Then take the XXXX subway line to Shijo Station. As of writing, the tickets cost XXXX yen one way and the journey takes about XXXX minutes not including the train change.

Tours - The Japan Discovery Tours visits Yasaka Jinja
Click here for more information regarding when Discovery visits this destination.

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Disclaimer and Request:

Opening hours, prices, booking procedures, schedules etc are subject to changes beyond our control. This site is just a guide, and we advise that you always check and confirm in advance. Suggestions, additions and correction of errors are always welcome. Please contact us.