Yasaka Shrine

One of the smaller shrines I’ve been to. I only recommend it because it’s the only night time shrine I have been too. There was only one food cart stand and it was pretty deserted when we went. Still an interesting stop, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to go to it. I recommend seeing it if you’re in the area already and if you have time. Not a lot else was going on around the shrine, unless you walk down a few blocks.

Yasaka Shrine is the centerpiece of the Gion District, hence its nickname the Gion Shrine. Although the shrine isn’t open ²⁴⁄₇ like Gion, the lighted shrine gate is especially beautiful at nighttime. However, especially compared to the more impressive Heian Shrine and Fushimi Inari Shrine, Yasaka Shrine is rather average in its presentation and the grounds is strangely not maintained as well as it should with its cultural significance as the center of the famous Gion Festival.
The shrine is a great place to visit if you are planning to explore the Gion District, but it isn’t somewhere that is worth going out of your way for.

Well kept clean and easy to walk. They are doing some construction to fix some parts. There are a lot of great food vendors and some crafts.
You should spend at least an hour but better two hours here.

八坂神社 Yaska Shrine is located close to Gion so we ended up coming here for a walk after lunch.
Bright Orange and Colourfully shrine is definitely making the visit quite delightful.
Since there are other smaller shrines inside that one can wish for beauty, wealth and all other wishes that normal people like me would desire. Of course, my sister was quite intrigued with the Beauty shrine and ended up spent most of her time there praying!
From Yasaka Shrine, one can walk through to Maruyama Park which is beautiful and quiet and then all the way up to Chion-​In Temple.

In the middle of it all!
Yasaka Shrine is truly in the middle of it all. It’s between the Gion and Higashimaya districts, and so by default, a great shrine to visit on the way to one place or the other! It’s also very hard to miss, being a very bright, beautiful, and colorful shrine, located at the end of Shijo Dori, a major shopping street in Gion.
A suggested walking itinerary would be to start in Gion, head towards Yasaka Shrine, explore and continue walking through Maruyama Park towards Kodaiji Temple. There’s a fun little challenge throughout the streets between Yasaka Shrine and Kodaiji Temple, where you can touch several Buddhist statues and altar objects to earn merit. Look for the pink signs. Fun and educational for young and adult kids alike. :)

Gorgeous shrine at the edge of Kyoto!
This is a place to wander, relax, take a few photos, and enjoy some quiet time in Kyoto.
Afterwards you can wander the small shops and restaurants nearby, and extend your fun for hours.

The Yasaka shrine is one the east end of Shijyo street. It is called «Yasaka-​san» or «Gion san» from local people. The red orange gate is symbolic of this shrine. During the Gion festival, some of the important ceremony is done in this shrine. This Yasaka Shrine has «Susano Oh» and his wife as the enshroud deity. Also there are several small shrines inside the Yasaka shrine where people come to pray for beauty, good relationships and love.
The best time to be here is the middle of April, July 16^th, 17^th and 24^th, and during Autumn. In middle of April, there are many cherry blossoms blooming in the temple, and there some lanterns being lighted during this time.
July 16^th, 17^th and 24^th are the day when the Yamaboko (festival float mounted with a decorative halberd) will be pulled around Oike street to Shijyo streets. The ceremony for pulling around the Yamaboko will be at Yasaka during this day.
During Autumn will be nice to see the red or yellow colored leafs with the collaboration with the shrine.
It is fun to sea the color and the atmosphere change in Yasaka shrine.

Standing on popular and bustling Gion area. If you walk along the Shijyo street from Kawaramachi to the east, you will astonished at scarlet pillars of the entrance. Very showy and outstanding. Adjacent to Maruyama park, it is must for tourists. Also famous for Gion festival (very magnificent and animated) as one of the largest festivals in Kyoto. I’ve not seen the parade of Hoko yet. I’ve visited Gion area on the previous night of the parade called «Yoiyama», when the area was too jam-​packed to stroll freely. Besides Gion festival annual events are held, so please check it on the website. Taking a walk in the gardens of Maruyama park adjacent to the shrine is also good!

A beautiful shrine with many shops along the street that leads up to the front gate. Also very beautiful at night when the hundreds of lanterns come on to light the shrine.
The road leading out the south gate towards Kiyomizu-​dera Temple goes through the famous Higashiyama District where the best preserved historic buildings & shops are. Quite a long walk so be prepared. It’s well worth it though.

Easy and fun shrine to visit in front of Gion. It’s free, and you can walk from there up to several streets to Kiyomizudera.