Matsunoo Taisha, Shinto shrine in Arashiyama, Japan
Matsunoo Taisha is a taisha shrine at the base of Mount Matsunoo in the Nishikyō Ward of Kyoto. The grounds contain three separate gardens designed by landscape architect Shigemori Mirei in 1975, along with several buildings that hold Important Cultural Property status.
The Hata clan founded the site in 701, making it one of the oldest religious structures in the Kyoto region. Over the centuries, the place remained a center for worship and drew visitors who sought protection for their fields and brewing craft.
The shrine keeps close ties with sake brewers who regularly bring barrels of rice wine as offerings and ask for blessings on their craft. This connection to alcohol production has made the site an important place for people involved with breweries and distilleries.
Visitors reach the grounds through Matsuo Station on the Hankyu Arashiyama Line, with general access free of charge. Entry to the gardens requires a small fee, and the paths inside are mostly flat and easy to walk.
The spring water at Kame-no-ido on the grounds ranks among Japan's top 100 natural water sources and is used by local sake brewers for their production. Visitors can taste this water and experience why it is so valued in rice wine making.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
