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Yasaka Shrine, Kyoto

Yasaka Shrine courtyard: a dance stage hung with paper lanterns, vermilion halls and visitors
Photo: Zairon, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

The essentials in 10 seconds

Entry
Free
Hours
Grounds open 24 hours
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Time on site
A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes.
30 min
With kids
Fine with kids
Deity
Susanoo — with his consort and eight child deities
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Gion Matsuri
In July; portable-shrine processions on 17 and 24 July
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Evenings
The stage of paper lanterns
Getting there
Gion-Shijo station (Keihan) — 5 minutes
Coordinates
35.00364, 135.77853YesGo MapGoogleApple

Key facts

656the year shrine tradition dates its history to
Sourceyasaka-jinja.or.jp
Susanoothe chief deity — god of the sea and storms
Sourceyasaka-jinja.or.jp
Gionthe shrine's former name — the district is named after it
Sourceen.wikipedia
Gion Matsurione of Japan's great festivals — the shrine is its patron
Sourceen.wikipedia
17 and 24 Julythe nights of the portable-shrine processions
Sourceyasaka-jinja.or.jp
Lanternshundreds of paper lanterns on the dance stage
Sourcetravel guides
Utsukushi-gozena small shrine where people pray for beauty
Sourcetravel guides
¥0to enter the grounds
Sourcetravel guides

What is Yasaka Shrine?

Yasaka is one of Kyoto's best-known Shinto shrines, at the east end of Shijo-dori by the Gion district. It was once called Gion Shrine, and the district grew up around it, serving pilgrims. According to shrine tradition, its history goes back to 656.

The chief deity is Susanoo, god of the sea and storms, honoured alongside his consort Kushinadahime and eight child deities. Yasaka is patron of the Gion Matsuri, one of Japan's greatest festivals: rites take place across central Kyoto all July, and on 17 and 24 July the sacred portable shrines are carried out of the shrine.

How the shrine works

The main entrance from Shijo-dori is the bright red two-storey West Gate (Nishi-romon) at the top of a flight of stone steps. Beyond it is a courtyard with the main hall, the lantern-hung dance stage and many smaller shrines. One of them is Utsukushi-gozen: people come to pray for beauty, and the spring water nearby is said to be good for the skin.

Entry is free. Behind the shrine is Maruyama Park, one of Kyoto's main cherry-blossom spots, with a huge weeping cherry tree. From here it's also easy to walk up to Kodai-ji and Kiyomizu-dera temples.

What to see

  • The Nishi-romon West Gate at the end of Shijo.
  • The stage of paper lanterns — especially in the evening.
  • The main hall with its curved roof.
  • Utsukushi-gozen, the beauty shrine.
  • Maruyama Park behind the shrine.
  • Gion Matsuri processions in July.

How to get to Yasaka Shrine

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on footdestinationStreet view

Where are you starting from?

We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.

On foot

  • Gion is about 7 min away on foot.
  • Kiyomizu-dera is about 21 min away on foot.

More tips

  1. Gion-Shijo station (Keihan line) — about 5 minutes east along Shijo.
  2. Kyoto-Kawaramachi station (Hankyu line) — about 10 minutes.
  3. From Kyoto Station — bus 100 or 206 to Gion, by the gate.
  4. From Kiyomizu-dera — about 20 minutes on foot via Ninenzaka.
  5. From Kansai airport — Haruka to Kyoto Station, then the bus.

By day or at night

Dayyou are hereUnlitBusyMaruyama Park, Kiyomizu-deraFree
EveningLit on the stageQuieterDinner in GionFree

How long do you need?

Allow 30 minutes for the shrine, about an hour with Maruyama Park. It fits neatly into a route between Kiyomizu-dera and Gion.

In July during the Gion Matsuri the shrine and city centre are very crowded — allow more time and check the schedule of rites.

Is Yasaka Shrine worth visiting?

Yes: it's the heart of Gion and one of Kyoto's most photogenic shrines, especially in the evening when the lanterns are lit. It's free and always open.

The YesGo take: the shrine is small and busy by day. It's best to drop in during the evening on your way from Gion, and in spring to visit Maruyama Park and its weeping cherry.

Before you go: checklist

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Kyoto temples and shrines: compare and choose

Temples and shrines in Kyoto rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.

Fushimi Inari Shrine552 hFree4.1 km
Kiyomizu-dera511 h 30 min≈ ¥50020 min walk
Yasaka Shrineyou are here4830 minFree—
Kinkaku-ji4845 min¥5006.1 km
Philosopher's Path401 hFree2.9 km
Sanjusangen-do3845 minabout ¥60032 min walk
Ryoan-ji3745 min¥6006.5 km
Arashiyama283 hFree10.2 km

Higashiyama in a day

Kiyomizu-dera in the morning, Yasaka Shrine in the afternoon, and Gion in the evening. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers.

  1. Kiyomizu-dera1 h 30 min · ≈ ¥500
  2. 20 min walk from the previous stopYasaka Shrineyou are here30 min · free
  3. 6 min walk from the previous stopGion1 h 30 min · free

3 places · about 3 h 56 min with walks · 26 min on foot in total

Go · my route

Nearby — add to your day

Gion

Kyoto, Japan

1 h 30 min · free · 6 min walk

Kiyomizu-dera

Kyoto, Japan

1 h 30 min · ≈ ¥500 · 20 min walk

Sanjusangen-do

Kyoto, Japan

45 min · about ¥600 · 32 min walk

How to do it right

  • The lanterns are lit in the evening.
  • Maruyama Park is right behind.
  • Don't sit on the stage.
  • The beauty shrine is Utsukushi-gozen.
  • Nearby: Gion.

Questions

How much does Yasaka Shrine cost?

Entry is free.

What are the opening hours?

The grounds are open 24 hours.

When are the lanterns lit?

In the evening, on the dance stage.

Who is the shrine dedicated to?

Susanoo, god of the sea and storms, with his consort and child deities.

When is the Gion Matsuri?

In July; the portable-shrine processions are on 17 and 24 July.

How do I get there?

About 5 minutes on foot from Gion-Shijo station (Keihan).

What's nearby?

Gion, Maruyama Park and Kiyomizu-dera.

How long do you need?

About 30 minutes, an hour with the park.

Have you been? Was it worth your time?

1 — no, 5 — absolutely

Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.

Sources and fact-check

  • Shrine official site (yasaka-jinja.or.jp/en) — 656 tradition, Susanoo, portable-shrine processions on 17 and 24 July (checked 09.11.2026)
  • English Wikipedia: Yasaka Shrine — former name, deities, Gion Matsuri
  • Travel guides — 24-hour access, lanterns, Utsukushi-gozen, Maruyama Park (unofficial)
  • Wikidata Q692714 — coordinates
YesGo editorial team · facts checked 09.11.2026 ·
How we checkedThe founding tradition, chief deity and procession dates are from the official site. The former name, consort and child deities, and the link with the Gion Matsuri are from Wikipedia; we don't retell the festival's origins. The 24-hour access, lanterns and the small beauty shrine are from guides; we mark the hours unconfirmed. Festival dates vary by year — check the schedule.

Top YesGo picks: Kyoto

Kinkaku-ji

Kyoto, Japan

45 min · ¥500

Nijo Castle

Kyoto, Japan

1 h 30 min · ¥800; with Ninomaru ¥1,300

Ryoan-ji

Kyoto, Japan

45 min · ¥600

Arashiyama

Kyoto, Japan

3 h · grove free; Tenryu-ji garden ¥500

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