Saiin Kasuga Shrine, Shinto shrine in Japan
Saiin Kasuga Shrine is a small Shinto shrine in Ukyō-ku with traditional wooden structures and simple architecture. The grounds are surrounded by old trees, and stone lanterns and weathered statues line the pathways, having watched over the site for many years.
The shrine was founded in 833 and houses deities from the celebrated Kasuga Shrine in Nara. Over the centuries, it has remained a place where people seek health and protection, particularly because of the site's reputation for healing stones.
The shrine takes its name from the famous Kasuga Shrine in Nara and serves as a place where locals pray for health and protection. You will notice visitors making small offerings and writing wishes on wooden tablets, which they leave at the altar as signs of their hopes and gratitude.
The shrine is easy to reach by taking the Hankyu Kyoto Line to Saiin Station or by city bus to Nishioji-Shijo stop, followed by a short walk. It is open year-round and is best visited for a quiet experience, especially if you prefer to avoid the October festival crowds.
The shrine houses a healing stone called Hoosoo Ishi, believed to cure all kinds of illness. There is also a story of a woman who recovered from smallpox after praying here, a tale that has shaped its reputation as a place of healing to this day.
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