# Yasaka Shrine, Kyoto > Yasaka is a Shinto shrine at the end of Shijo-dori, in the Gion district. Its red gate is visible from afar, and in the evening hundreds of paper lanterns light its dance stage. The shrine is patron of the Gion Matsuri, which runs all July. Entry is free and the grounds are always open. It's about 5 minutes on foot from Gion-Shijo station. Web page: https://yesgo.io/japan/kyoto/yasaka-shrine - City: [Kyoto](https://yesgo.io/japan/kyoto), Japan - YesGo score: 48/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 30 min - With kids: Fine with kids - Entry: Free - Hours: Grounds open 24 hours - Deity: Susanoo — with his consort and eight child deities - Gion Matsuri: In July; portable-shrine processions on 17 and 24 July - Evenings: The stage of paper lanterns - Getting there: Gion-Shijo station (Keihan) — 5 minutes - Coordinates: 35.00364, 135.77853 - Facts checked: 09.11.2026 ## Key facts - **656** — the year shrine tradition dates its history to (source: yasaka-jinja.or.jp) - **Susanoo** — the chief deity — god of the sea and storms (source: yasaka-jinja.or.jp) - **Gion** — the shrine's former name — the district is named after it (source: en.wikipedia) - **Gion Matsuri** — one of Japan's great festivals — the shrine is its patron (source: en.wikipedia) - **17 and 24 July** — the nights of the portable-shrine processions (source: yasaka-jinja.or.jp) - **Lanterns** — hundreds of paper lanterns on the dance stage (source: travel guides) - **Utsukushi-gozen** — a small shrine where people pray for beauty (source: travel guides) - **¥0** — to enter the grounds (source: travel 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. > **Lanterns at night** The shrine grounds are always open. The loveliest time is evening: hundreds of paper lanterns bearing donors' names are lit on the dance stage, and the courtyard glows. It's a handy stop after a walk through Gion. Remember it's a working shrine: don't sit on the stage or disturb worshippers. ## 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 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 | | Day | Evening | | --- | --- | --- | | Lanterns | Unlit | Lit on the stage | | Crowds | Busy | Quieter | | Nearby | Maruyama Park, Kiyomizu-dera | Dinner in Gion | | Entry | Free | Free | ## 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 - [ ] Evening — for the lanterns - [ ] A coin for prayer - [ ] Maruyama Park behind the shrine - [ ] Gion next door - [ ] July — the Gion Matsuri schedule ## Kyoto temples and shrines: compare and choose Temples and shrines in Kyoto rated by YesGo. - [Fushimi Inari Shrine](https://yesgo.io/japan/kyoto/fushimi-inari) — YesGo score 55/100 (Yes, go) · 2 h · free - [Kiyomizu-dera](https://yesgo.io/japan/kyoto/kiyomizu-dera) — YesGo score 51/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 30 min · ≈ ¥500 - [Yasaka Shrine](https://yesgo.io/japan/kyoto/yasaka-shrine) — YesGo score 48/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · free - [Kinkaku-ji](https://yesgo.io/japan/kyoto/kinkaku-ji) — YesGo score 48/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · ¥500 - [Philosopher's Path](https://yesgo.io/japan/kyoto/philosophers-path) — YesGo score 40/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · free - [Sanjusangen-do](https://yesgo.io/japan/kyoto/sanjusangen-do) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · about ¥600 - [Ryoan-ji](https://yesgo.io/japan/kyoto/ryoan-ji) — YesGo score 37/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · ¥600 - [Arashiyama](https://yesgo.io/japan/kyoto/arashiyama) — YesGo score 28/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · grove free; Tenryu-ji garden ¥500 ## 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-dera](https://yesgo.io/japan/kyoto/kiyomizu-dera) — YesGo score 51/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 30 min · ≈ ¥500 2. [Yasaka Shrine](https://yesgo.io/japan/kyoto/yasaka-shrine) — YesGo score 48/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · free 3. [Gion](https://yesgo.io/japan/kyoto/gion) — YesGo score 48/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · free ## Good to know Kyoto's Yasaka Shrine is not the shrines of the same name in other cities. The Yasaka Pagoda (Hokan-ji) is a different site a few minutes' walk to the south. ## Tips - 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](https://yesgo.io/japan/kyoto/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. ## How we checked The 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. ## Sources - 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 --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.