Kifune Shrine

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Kifune Shrine

With a history of more than 1,300 years, it is one of the oldest shrines in Japan and the head shrine of about 2,000 water god shrines in Japan. It is also known as Kyoto's best spot for matchmaking.

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Located along the Kibune River at the foot of Mt. Kibune in Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City, the shrine is the head shrine of about 2,000 water god shrines in Japan, and enshrines the deity Taka-okamino-kami, who controls water. The exact date of establishment is unknown, but there is a record of the rebuilding of the shrine in the 6th year of Hakuho (677), during the reign of Emperor Temmu, making it one of the oldest shrines in Japan with a history of over 1,300 years. Since the Kibune River is the source of the Kamo River and the shrine is located just north of the Imperial Palace, it has been highly revered and protected by successive Imperial Courts as a deity protecting the water source of the capital. It is said that the origin of the ‘ema’ (a votive picture horse) is that Emperor Saga dedicated a live horse to the shrine to pray for rain to fall or stop.

The precincts of the shrine are made up of three enclaves: the main shrine, the rear shrine, and the Yui shrine. Clear mountain water springs from the stone walls in front of the main shrine, and is revered as sacred water. The famous "water fortune-telling" is fortune-telling that is unique to the god of water, and when you dip it in the sacred water, the characters come to life. You should definitely try it as a memento of your visit to the shrine.

The rear shrine is the place where Kifune Shrine was founded, where Goddess Tamayori-hime is said to have arrived on a yellow boat. Surrounded by a deep forest, the area has a solemn and mysterious atmosphere that will make you straighten up. Underneath the main shrine is a large hole called the Dragon Hole, which is known as a sacred and powerful power spot.
Then there is the middle shrine, the Yui shrine, which sits in the center of the precincts. The deity enshrined here is Iwanagahime-no-mikoto, the god of matchmaking. There is an anecdote that the poet of the Heian period, Izumi Shikibu, visited the shrine and prayed for her husband's reconciliation, which was granted, making it one of the most famous matchmaking spot in Kyoto.

Highlights

  • The main shrine, which enshrines the water god and Taka-okamino-kami.
  • The rear shrine, which is the shrine's founding site and has a dragon pit.
  • The Yui shrine, which is the best matchmaking spot in Kyoto.

Photos

  • Approach path lined with vermilion-lacquered lanterns

    Approach path lined with vermilion-lacquered lanterns

  • The god of water, Taka-okamino-kami, resides in the main shrine.

    The god of water, Taka-okamino-kami, resides in the main shrine.

  • The rear shrine, the site of the shrine's founding

    The rear shrine, the site of the shrine's founding

  • The Yui shrine, a marriage wish spot.

    The Yui shrine, a marriage wish spot.

  • Water fortune-telling that appears on the fortune slip when dipped in sacred water

    Water fortune-telling that appears on the fortune slip when dipped in sacred water

  • It is also known as the birthplace of the ‘ema.’

    It is also known as the birthplace of the ‘ema.’

Reviews

4
  • 蔡義忠

    是非常特別的地方,走在裡面感到身心靈特別舒爽,很棒的能量景點。

  • Jim Chen

    夏天的京都很悶熱,貴船神社是納涼的好地方。

  • 王怡潔

    掌握戀愛的結緣聖地,最有名的就是兩排紅燈籠坡道,特別的水沾卜把籤詩放到水中文字會浮現出來,好特別。

  • 吳起帆

    1000多年歷史悠久的神社,尤其是水詩籤相當特別一定要去試試運氣。

Details

Name in Japanese
貴船神社
Postal Code
601-1112
Address
180 Kuramakibunecho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto
Telephone
075-741-2016
Holiday
Open every day
Hours
6:00am-8:00pm (varies by season. Goods shop 9:00am-5:00pm)
Admission
Free
Directions
(1) Take Kyoto Bus No. 33 from Kibuneguchi Station on the Kurama Line of the Eizan Electric Railway, get off at Kibune Bus Stop, and walk 5 minutes.
(2) 30 minute walk from Kibuneguchi Station on the Eizan Electric Railway Kurama Line.
Credit Cards
Not accepted
Official Website
Official Website (English)