Yakasa Shrine
Fabrice Requin
Hello and welcome to my blog. This blog is considered my haven when everything...
On the edge of Kyoto’s central shopping district, the Yakasa Shrine oversees the religious rites of the city’s main festival, the Gion Matsuri, in July. It is many of the most important shrines in Kyoto and is a popular destination for tourist in and out of Japan.
The Yakasa Shrine also known as Gion shrine, was established around 656 and originally called Gion Shrine. Its deities protect from illness and in 869, were paraded though the streets to stop an epidemic – the beginning of the Gion Matsuri. It is a popluar place especially on New Years where thousands flock here to pray for health and prosperity. – Eyewitness Travel.
This shrine is also the gateway to the beautiful Maruyama Park where if in the right season can see a beautiful scenery. Don’t confuse yourself with the Yakasa Pagoda where it is a completely different landmark located in the southern part of the Higashiyama district (also worth a visit!). 
While making your way to the shrine, youll sometimes find small stalls selling souvenirs and food. 
Youll pass smaller shrines too. 
Inari Shrine for lovematching and anything love related. 
Dozens of wishes by those hopeful. 
Main shrine complex. 
Shrine souvenirs and other things such as omikuji. 
A Poll filled with Omikuji. 
Cleansing before our visit. 
The main hall (left) and dance stage (right). 
The shrine’s main hall combines the honden (inner sanctuary) and haiden (offering hall) into a single building. 
Two small stool, im not sure what for though.. 
The dance stage with hundreds of lanterns that get lit in the evenings. Each lantern bears the name of a local business in return for a donation. 
Fellow visitors taking there pictures, a memento of this beautiful shrine.
One of the access point of the shrine is through the two-story gateway vermillion gate above the eastern end of Shijo-dori, in the Higashiyama district. Yasaka Shrine can be reached by bus number 100 or 206 where you get off at Gion bus stop. The closest train stations are Gion Shijo Station on the Keihan Line and Kawaramachi Station on the Hankyu Line.
Closed: No closing days
Admission: Free
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Fabrice is a blogger, full time university student, web enthusiast and founder of Fateful Encounters.. This blog is his final haven when everything seems nuisances; urging him to assess and to share his thoughts and his own findings to the world, or at least to his fellow neighbors in the blog sphere.
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Hey, I remember visiting this place, but I didn’t know what it was called. It was right by the bus stop so my friends and I decided to take a look around since the next bus wouldn’t arrive for another 20 minutes.
One of the most important shrines in Kyoto, luckily you manage to visit it!
Whoa, nice. Personally, I love visiting old shrines and temples.
Also, happy new year.
Glad you like and would definitely recommend you to go.
Happy New Year to You =)
I would love to be here and in any shrines in Japan. It looks like a solemn place…
but there are lot of people visiting… I want to see these kind of traditional places…
And i wanna buy some souvenirs. Haha…
I guess the best time is early morning, For Yakasa Shrine since its a very popular destination i doubt you can visit without having a few crowd there too.
But in any case its still wonderful.
Hope you can see those places!
I would like to live a new year in Japan and visit the temples… have you tried you luck with a Omikuji :D??
Yup i tried my luck while visiting Sanjusangendo, and it was pretty good haha!
well you know the saying, never say never, maybe and hopefully one day you can celebrate new year in Japan, I know i do! =)
Hahaha, i see, i’m updating with the posts, the last days with work and family did not had a chance to be on the internet, i see that you got a good one and just need to be careful with the stomach xD
Have never been in Japan, this year I hope i can start to save some money and then start researching to go and visit someday :)
You have a blog? That would be great to link it to me, so that i can visit, ill add you to my feature feed too =)
Whats funny about the Omikuji is that i actually had bad stomach problems when i went to Europe after! had to see a doctor :/
If you need any tips/help/rec, i would be glad to assist you! =)
Nice photos! I’m sure you had a great time visiting wonderful shrines like this one. :)
Thanks for sharing!