八坂神社 · Shinto shrine
Yasaka Shrine enshrines Susanoo-no-mikoto, Kushiinadahime-no-mikoto and Yahashira-no-mikoto. The shrine gives two accounts of its own origin: one tracing its history as far back as 656, and one recording a temple built on the site in 876 by a priest from Nara named Ennyo. Both are the shrine's own tradition rather than settled history.
This is the shrine behind the Gion Matsuri. On the night of 17 July, three portable shrines carrying its deities leave for the Otabisho in central Kyoto; they remain there for a week and return to Yasaka Shrine on the night of 24 July.
The times below are as published by the shrine and the city tourism guide.
| Shrine grounds | Open at all hoursKyoto City Official Travel Guide — Yasaka Shrine |
|---|---|
| Shrine office | 9:00–17:00Yasaka Shrine — official site |
Address: Gion-machi Kitagawa 625, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto
The grounds are open at all hours, so there is no closing time to plan around here. The shrine stands at the eastern end of Shijo-dori, with Gion-Shijo and Kyoto-Kawaramachi stations a few minutes away on foot.
This shows the order of the walk. It is a diagram, not a map, and not to scale. Walking times are map-route estimates between the listed locations.
| History and background, What you can see | Yasaka Shrine — English site |
|---|---|
| Shrine grounds, Getting there | Kyoto City Official Travel Guide — Yasaka Shrine |
| Shrine office | Yasaka Shrine — official site |
Information checked: September 3, 2026.