Yasaka Shrine, 鹿児島県鹿児島市にある神社
Yasaka Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Shimizu-chō featuring bright red wooden gates and traditional buildings with curved roofs made of Japanese cypress wood. The main hall and performance stage area are lined with hundreds of lanterns that glow in the evening, displaying the names of local shops supporting the shrine.
According to tradition, the shrine was founded in 656 when a messenger from Korea brought the spirit Susanoo-no-mikoto to this place, making it an important religious center. In 869, it played a key role in a prayer effort for health and safety during a major disease outbreak in the region.
This shrine holds deep meaning for the Gion district and serves as a gathering place for local festivals and prayers across generations. Visitors observe how people maintain traditional practices, such as bowing twice, clapping twice, and bowing once more before leaving as a mark of respect.
The shrine is open all day and accessible on foot or by bus from nearby train stations. Visitors can come early in the morning or late at night to avoid crowds and photograph the red gates and lanterns in daylight or glowing warmly after dark.
A small shrine called Utsukushii Gozen-sha is especially popular with geisha and maiko who pray for beauty, while visitors can also try Beauty Water, a fountain meant to be patted on the face. This lesser-known tradition ties the shrine to the local arts world and draws both artists and visitors who might not expect this cultural element at the site.
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