Yasaka-jinja, Shinto shrine in Japan
Yasaka-jinja is a Shinto shrine in Ikeda featuring bright vermilion gates and traditional wooden buildings arranged along stone pathways lined with lanterns. The site is dedicated to Susanô, a major figure in Japanese mythology, and sits near the Gion district known for its historic streets and traditional wooden structures.
The shrine was founded before 794 when the capital moved from Nara to Kyoto, making it over a thousand years old. It originated as a place of prayer during a plague outbreak in 869, when people came seeking protection from illness and disease.
The shrine's name reflects its complex past: originally called Gion-sha, it was renamed Yasaka-jinja during the Meiji period when Shinto and Buddhism separated. Visitors still see old lanterns bearing the former name, and during July's Gion Matsuri festival, the grounds become the heart of neighborhood gathering and celebration.
The shrine is free to visit and open year-round at any time of day, with no admission charge required. It is just a short walk from Gion-shijo or Kawaramachi stations, and multiple bus lines serve the nearby stops, making access straightforward.
During July's Gion Matsuri festival, enormous decorated floats are pulled through the streets in a spectacle that draws tens of thousands and originates from this site. The shrine retains old lanterns that still bear marks of its Buddhist past, serving as silent witnesses to its spiritual transformation.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
