A small Shinto shrine partway up Mt. Kurama, Yuki-jinja seems to embody the true spirit of Shinto: the reverence for the awesome power of nature.
Yuki jinja shrine in Kurama
Most Shinto shrines in Japan have torii (vermillion Shinto shrine gates) in front of their main halls. But Yuki-jinja outdoes them all by having a natural torii in front of its main hall: an enormous Kitayama sugi (cedar) tree. You enter the shrine by climbing a flight of steps that passes beneath this tree. You can almost feel the power as you pass between these ancient sentinel. Yuki-jinja is the “patron shrine” of the famous Kurama-no-Himatsuri (Kurama Fire Festival), that takes place every October.
English address:
1073 Kurama Honmachi, Sakyo-ku
Japanese address:
左京区鞍馬本町1073
Opening hours:
9am-4pm
Admission:
Free
Non-smoking area: Yes
Nearest Transport:
10min walk from Kurama Station, Eizan line
Telephone: 741-1670
Website:
Official Website (Japanese)
Near To Here:
Yuki-Jinja Shrine is located in Kyoto’s Kurama and Kibune district. See our complete list of things to do in Kyoto’s Kurama and Kibune district, including places to eat, nightlife and places to stay.
Where Is This Place Located?
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Kyoto Vacation Checklist
- For all the essentials in a brief overview, see my First Time In Kyoto guide
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