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Temples & religious sites

Yasaka Shrine

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Yasaka Shrine

What it is

Yasaka Shrine sits at the east end of Shijō-dōri, marking the boundary between the Gion district and the wooded slope up to Maruyama Park. It's a Shinto shrine dedicated to Susanoo, with his consort Kushinadahime and eight offspring deities also enshrined here. The grounds include a prominent stage hall hung with lanterns, a main hall, and several gates, and the shrine is closely tied to Kyoto's Gion Matsuri festival. It's a working place of worship rather than a museum piece, so expect visitors offering prayers alongside sightseers.

Getting there

From central Kyoto Station, it's roughly a 15-20 minute bus or taxi ride, or about a 20-minute walk from the Gion area. The shrine's west gate opens directly onto Shijō-dōri, making it an easy stop if you're already walking through Gion.

How much time to allow

Most people spend 30-45 minutes walking the main grounds. If you continue up into Maruyama Park behind the shrine, add another 30 minutes or more.

When to go

Shijō-dōri and the shrine's main approach get busy during the day, especially on weekends and holidays. Early morning is quieter. The shrine is illuminated at night, which draws a different crowd than the daytime foot traffic from Gion.

What to combine it with

Gion (0.3km) is right at the shrine's doorstep, making the two a natural pairing for a single outing. Chion-in Temple (0.5km) is a short walk away and worth combining if you have time for another religious site. Sanjō Ōhashi Bridge (0.9km) and the National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto (1km) are both within walking distance for those extending the visit further.

Updated September 20, 2026 · Edited by the World by City editors

Tickets & tours

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Stays near Yasaka Shrine

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Itineraries including this place

2 nights, 3 days

Kyoto 3-Day Itinerary (2 Nights)

A 3-day route through Kyoto grouped by daily travel distance for optimal sightseeing.

3 nights, 4 days

Kyoto 4-Day Itinerary (3 Nights)

A 4-day route through Kyoto grouped by daily travel distance for optimal sightseeing.

Good to visit alongside

Gion

Shopping & districts

Gion

Gion is a district in Kyoto's Higashiyama Ward that originated as an entertainment quarter formed during the Sengoku period to serve pilgrims and travelers visiting Yasaka Shrine. It later grew into one of Japan's foremost geisha (geiko and maiko) districts, and its narrow lanes lined with wooden buildings, traditional teahouses, and exclusive restaurants still preserve that old-world atmosphere.

0.3 km away
Chion-in Temple

Temples & religious sites

Chion-in Temple

Chion-in is a temple in Kyoto's Higashiyama district and the head temple of the Jodo Shu (Pure Land) sect, founded by the Kamakura-era monk Honen (1133–1212). As the spiritual center of Pure Land Buddhism, whose practice centers on chanting Amida Buddha's name for rebirth in paradise, it welcomes visitors through a massive wooden sanmon gate into a sprawling complex that climbs the hillside beyond.

0.5 km away
Sanjō Ōhashi Bridge

Views & landmarks

Sanjō Ōhashi Bridge

Sanjo Ohashi is a bridge spanning the Kamo River where Sanjo-dori crosses it. It holds historical significance as the terminus of the Nakasendo and Tokaido, two of the five major roads used by long-distance travelers during the Edo period, making it a good spot for a brief stop just to see the bridge itself. From the promenade along the river, you can take in the bridge and the surrounding scenery together.

0.9 km away
National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto

Museums & galleries

National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto

Located in Kyoto's Okazaki area, this museum focuses on Japan's modern and contemporary art and crafts. It stands right next to Heian Shrine and beside the Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art, so the area forms a small museum district. Rather than centering on one artist or school, it hosts rotating exhibitions covering a wide range of works, making it a good fit for travelers seeking something different from Kyoto's temples and shrines.

1.0 km away
Kiyomizu-dera Temple

Temples & religious sites

Kiyomizu-dera Temple

Kiyomizu-dera is a Buddhist temple at the foot of the mountains in eastern Kyoto, formally known as Otowasan Kiyomizu-dera. It is the head temple of the Kita Hosso sect of Japanese Buddhism, its principal image is the eleven-headed Kannon, and it is the 16th temple on the Saikoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage.

1.1 km away
Honnō-ji Temple

Temples & religious sites

Honnō-ji Temple

Honnō-ji is a temple belonging to the Nichiren (Hokke) school, known as the site of the Honnō-ji Incident of 1582, when Oda Nobunaga met his end in an attack by his vassal Akechi Mitsuhide. The current building, however, was rebuilt on a different site after the incident and is not the original temple grounds.

1.2 km away