Photos of Yasaka-jinja Shrine

Located in the Higashiyama scenic area of Kyoto and commonly called Gion Shrine, Yasaka Shrine is the most important Shinto shrine of the approximately 3,000 sub-shrines throughout Japan. The rather unique mikoshi (divine palanquin) within allows visitors the chance to pray to the God of Beauty. The shrine's ritual activity is known as the Gion Festival (Gion Matsuri), which is one of the three great Shinto festivals of Japan, together with the Kanda Festival (Kanda Matsuri) in Tokyo and the Tenjin Festival (Tenjin Matsuri) in Osaka. Yasaka Shrine is also a popular hanami (cherry blossom viewing) site in spring.