Kyoto, Japan Dec. 23 Mon 9:21AM
4.5
℃
/
40.2
℉
The Shrine of Gion, Gion-san
Yasaka-jinja Shrine was founded in 656, and during the Heian Period became a shrine largely supported and patronized by the Imperial Court. With a history of over 1300 years, it is one of the most venerated temples in Kyoto and all of Japan.
It is located right along Shijo-dori, or Fourth Street, in the center of Gion. This shrine is also the shrine of the Gion Festival, which began in 869, when a portable shrine palaquin was paraded through the streets to ward of sickness in Kyoto. Since then, it has become Kyoto's largest and most famous festival. Yasaka Shrine is also famous for its New Year Festival, where people from all over Japan come to wish for good luck in the new year.
