Kurumazaki Shrine, Shinto shrine in Ukyō-ku, Japan
Kurumazaki Shrine is a Shinto place of worship in Ukyō Ward where more than 40 varieties of cherry trees grow, including Taiwan, Kawazu, Yoshino, and Keisen-zakura. This grove flowers from March throughout spring, with the trees opening their blossoms at different times.
The Confucian scholar Kiyohara no Yorinari received worship here after his death in 1189, following his service as Senior Secretary of the Council of State. Emperor Gosaga later granted the title Kurumazaki-Daimyojin and Senior First Rank status after his oxcart broke down nearby.
The worship of Ame no Uzume no Mikoto draws people from theater and dance, who leave their prayers on wooden fence posts. These performer names inscribed on the posts show the close tie between this place and the performing arts.
The Randen Arashiyama Line stops directly at Kurumazaki-jinja Station, from which the grounds are a very short walk. City buses also reach the Kurumazaki-jinja-mae stop, which is equally close.
The name literally means "cart cape" and refers to the moment the imperial oxcart wheel broke off. Visitors today often walk past the small marker stone that recalls where the royal vehicle stopped.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
