- Culture
- Kyoto
Yasaka Shrine
Yasaka Shrine is the symbol of the Gion area, affectionately called Yasaka-san or Gion-san by the locals. It is believed to have been built in 656 and enshrines the Susanoo-no-mikoto deity of Japanese mythology, whose parents were Izanagi (god) and Izanami (goddess). Yasaka Shrine used to be called Gion-sha or Kanshin-in, from which the name "Gion" was derived since the area once flourished as a shrine town. Shijo Street, which is Kyoto City's main street running east to west, starts from this shrine and is also the main street for the Gion Festival in the summer, which is an event held by Yasaka Shrine.
Gion-Shinbashi
This is an area, northeast of Keihan Gion-shijo Station, that covers the northside of Shijo Street in Gion-machi and Gion-Motoyoshi-cho along Shinbashi Street. Designated as a Traditional Architecture Preservation District, this area has a typical Gion atmosphere, with a number of top fine dining restaurants running from east to west that are often used for shooting television and movie productions.
Gion
The Gion area, also known as Gion-machi, extends over a large area, covering Yasaka Shrine to the east, Kenin-ji Temple to the south, the Kamo River to the west and Shinbashi Street to the north. This area was named Gion as Yasaka Shrine was once called Gion-sha and prospered as a shrine town and an area for entertainment during the Edo Period (1603-1868). It is still a busy district with a number of casual to high-end restaurants and shops. If you are lucky, you may encounter traditional female entertainers called Geiko and Maiko.
Location
| Name | Yasaka Shrine |
|---|---|
| Website | http://www.yasaka-jinja.or.jp/en/ |
| Address | Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto |
| Access | Approximately 5 minutes' walk from Gion-shijo Station on the Keihan Railway Approximately 8 minutes' walk from Kyoto-kawaramachi Station on the Hankyu Railway From JR Kyoto Station, take City Bus #206 and get off at the Gion bus stop. |
| Inquiries | TEL: 075-561-6155 |
