Shrines in Kyoto
16 places across 8 neighbourhoods, 15 of them free to enter, the most featured first.
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Shrine · Fushimi
Fushimi Inari Taisha 伏見稲荷大社
The head shrine of Inari, the Shinto deity of rice, known for thousands of vermilion torii gates over trails climbing Mount Inari (233 m).
Inari (JR Nara Line), 1 min walk · Free entry · 2 h
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Shrine · Gion
Yasaka Shrine 八坂神社
Founded more than 1350 years ago at the east end of Shijo-dori, between Gion and the Higashiyama district.
Gion-Shijo (Keihan Main Line), 7 min walk · Free entry · 20 min
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Shrine · Okazaki
Heian Shrine 平安神宮
Built in 1895 for the 1100th anniversary of the capital's founding, with main buildings modelled on a reduced-scale Heian period palace and a large torii gate on the approach.
Higashiyama (Tozai Line), 10 min walk · Paid entry · 1 h
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Shrine · Kinkaku-ji and Kitano
Kitano Tenmangu 北野天満宮
A shrine to Sugawara no Michizane, revered as the deity of learning, with a grove of nearly 2000 plum trees that bloom from February to March.
Kitano-Hakubaicho (Keifuku Kitano Line), 7 min walk · Free entry · 40 min
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Shrine · Imperial Palace
Shimogamo Shrine 下鴨神社
One of Kyoto's oldest shrines and part of the UNESCO Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto, at the junction of the Kamo and Takano rivers.
Demachiyanagi (Keihan Oto Line, Eizan Main Line), 15 min walk · Free entry · 45 min
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Shrine · Kawaramachi
Nishiki Tenmangu 錦天満宮
A small shrine at the eastern end of Nishiki Market, facing Shinkyogoku, dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the deity of learning.
Kyoto-Kawaramachi (Hankyu Kyoto Line), 4 min walk · Free entry · 10 min
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Shrine · Arashiyama
Nonomiya Shrine 野宮神社
A small shrine on the bamboo grove path, marked by a black torii made in the style of unstripped timber.
Arashiyama (Keifuku Arashiyama Line), 7 min walk · Free entry · 15 min
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Shrine · Kinkaku-ji and Kitano
Hirano Shrine 平野神社
A shrine a few minutes north of Kitano Tenmangu with around 60 varieties of cherry trees that flower in succession over about six weeks.
Kitano-Hakubaicho (Keifuku Kitano Line), 7 min walk · Free entry · 20 min
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Shrine · Gion
Yasui Konpira-gu 安井金比羅宮
A shrine south-east of Kennin-ji known for its enkiri stone, a large rock covered in paper charms with a hole at its base.
Gion-Shijo (Keihan Main Line), 9 min walk · Free entry · 20 min
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Shrine · Kiyomizu-Gojo
Toyokuni Shrine and the Hoko-ji bell 豊国神社・方広寺
A shrine to Toyotomi Hideyoshi, rebuilt in 1880 on the site of the Great Buddha hall of Hoko-ji, with a Momoyama-period karamon gate designated a National Treasure.
Shichijo (Keihan Main Line), 8 min walk · Free entry · 30 min
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Shrine · Arashiyama
Matsuo Taisha 松尾大社
One of Kyoto's oldest shrines, founded in 701 at the foot of Mount Matsuo south of Arashiyama.
Matsuo-taisha (Hankyu Arashiyama Line), 5 min walk · Free entry · 45 min
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Shrine · Kinkaku-ji and Kitano
Seimei Shrine 晴明神社
A small shrine on Horikawa-dori dedicated to Abe no Seimei, the Heian court diviner, founded in 1007 on the site of his residence.
Ichijo-modoribashi Seimei-jinja-mae bus stop (Kyoto City Bus 9), 1 min walk · Free entry · 20 min
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Shrine · Imperial Palace
Kamigamo Shrine 上賀茂神社（賀茂別雷神社）
One of Kyoto's oldest shrines and part of the UNESCO Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto, about 3.5 km up the Kamo river from Shimogamo Shrine.
Kamigamo-jinja-mae bus stop (Kyoto City Bus 4), 5 min walk · Free entry · 45 min
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Shrine · Imperial Palace
Goo Shrine 護王神社
A shrine on Karasuma-dori facing the west side of Kyoto Gyoen, moved here in 1886 by order of Emperor Meiji.
Marutamachi (Karasuma Line), 11 min walk · Free entry · 15 min
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Shrine · Fushimi
Gokonomiya Shrine 御香宮神社
A shrine in Fushimi named after the Gokosui spring that by tradition began to flow in its grounds in 862 and is listed among the Ministry of the Environment's 100 remarkable waters of Japan.
Momoyama-Goryomae (Kintetsu Kyoto Line), 5 min walk · Free entry · 30 min
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Shrine · Kinkaku-ji and Kitano
Imamiya Shrine 今宮神社
A shrine north of Daitoku-ji, first established in 994 and moved to its present site in 1001 to protect the city from epidemics.
Imamiya-jinja-mae bus stop (Kyoto City Bus 46), 2 min walk · Free entry · 30 min
Other categories
More by season and situation
- Free things to do in Kyoto 58 places
Places with free entry, from temple grounds and shrines to markets and riverside walks.
- Kyoto on a rainy day 70 places
Museums, covered arcades and halls that stay dry when it rains.
- Kyoto early in the morning 28 places
Places at their best early, at opening time or before the day crowds.
- Kyoto at night 30 places
Places to go after dark: lit streets, shrines open at night and evening views.
- Autumn leaves in Kyoto 23 places
Places known for their autumn colour.
- Cherry blossoms in Kyoto 17 places
Places known for their cherry blossom.
- Kyoto with kids 21 places
Places that work well with children.