Matsuo Taisha
Arashiyama, Kyoto
- Mon to Sat
- 9:00 to 16:00
- Sun
- 9:00 to 16:30
These are the hours of the gardens and statue hall. They also stay open to 16:30 on public holidays.
Source: matsunoo.or.jp, checked 11 Oct 2026.
Hata no Imiki Tori built the first hall of Matsuo Taisha at the foot of Mount Matsuo in 701, before Kyoto became the capital, and since the late Muromachi period it's been revered as the leading god of sake brewing in Japan. Its three Shofuen gardens, finished in 1975 by Shigemori Mirei, are laid with some 200 blue stones from the Yoshino River in Shikoku.
Insider tip
The grounds are free. The gardens and the statue hall, with three life-size Heian-period deity statues, share one ¥500 ticket. A sake museum in the grounds explains the shrine's link with brewing. It's right by Matsuo-taisha Station on the Hankyu Arashiyama Line.
What the guides say about Matsuo Taisha
You only get into Katsura Imperial Villa on a staff-led tour of about an hour, ¥1,000 for adults, free for ages 12 to 17, and children under 12 aren't allowed. English tours start at 9:20, 11:20, 13:20 and 15:20, plus 16:20 from March to September. Apply online from the first day of the month three months ahead, or line up at the gate from 8:40 for the walk-in Japanese tours, and bring your passport. It's closed on Mondays (Tuesday when Monday's a holiday) and from 28 December to 4 January. It's a 20-minute walk from the east exit of Hankyu's Katsura station, where you can change for the Arashiyama Line to Matsuo Taisha, the sake brewers' shrine, right by Matsuo-taisha Station.
What's on at Matsuo Taisha
Upcoming events at Matsuo Taisha and within a ten-minute walk, from the weekly Kyoto events calendar.
Kame no Ichi Flea Market at Matsuo Taisha
亀の市（松尾大社）
Station Matsuo-taisha Station (Hankyu), 2 min walk
The shrine's flea market is held on a Sunday. The next one after October is on 13 December.
KENPEI, CC BY-SA 3.0 Matsuo Matsuri
松尾祭 神幸祭・還幸祭（松尾大社）
Time Departure 11:00 on 25 April, return through the day on 16 May Station Matsuo-taisha-mae bus stop (City Bus 28), right by the stop
The shrine's mikoshi leave at 11:00 on a Sunday in late April, stop on the Katsura riverbank and spend three weeks at their otabisho in Nishishichijo before the return procession.
KENPEI, CC BY-SA 3.0 Hassaku-sai at Matsuo Taisha
八朔祭（松尾大社）
Time Rite 10:00 (Sunday) Station Matsuo-taisha (Hankyu Arashiyama Line)
Kyoto's last summer festival falls on the first Sunday of September, with a bon odori the night before. On the Sunday there's the rokusai nenbutsu dance, sumo in the ring south of the shrine, and lanterns from parishioners lit across the grounds and approach after dark.
KENPEI, CC BY-SA 3.0 Annual Festival at Matsunoo Taisha
松尾大社例祭
Time From 10:00 Station Matsuo Taisha Station (Hankyu)
After a rite in the main hall at Matsunoo Taisha, the shrine of sake brewing, a kyogen by the Shigeyama troupe and noh chant by the Kongo school are offered.
Osame no Jizo, Year-end Jizo Service at Suzumushi-dera
納めの地蔵【鈴虫寺】
Time Service from 11:00 Station Kyoto Bus stop Koke-dera Suzumushi-dera, 3 min walk
The last Jizo service of the year at Suzumushi-dera in western Kyoto, with the memorial rite starting at 11:00.
Smaller local events nearby
Kamiu-sai brewing prayer rite at Matsuo Taisha Festival
Sun 1 Nov · Matsuo Taisha, Arashiyama
The shrine lists the Kamiu-sai brewing prayer rite on 1 November at 11:00.
Map · Source: Matsuo Taisha · 上卯祭（松尾大社）
Niiname-sai at Matsuo Taisha Festival
Mon 23 Nov · Matsuo Taisha, Arashiyama
The shrine's annual schedule lists the Niiname-sai harvest thanksgiving rite on 23 November at 10:00.
Free · Map · Source: Matsuo Taisha · 新嘗祭（松尾大社）
Nearby
Around Arashiyama
Bamboo at first light, then the maple temples under Mount Ogura
Arashiyama is on Kyoto's north-western edge, where Togetsukyo Bridge crosses the Oi River with wooded hills right behind it. You'll want the bridge, Tenryu-ji and the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, and so will everyone else. Go early. Then walk north into Sagano. Its temples line the foot of Mount Ogura, and it's quieter at the far end, which Kyoto's official tourism site calls Okusaga.
Arashiyama has 30 places on the Roam Kyoto map: 14 shrines and temples, 4 landmarks, 3 parks and gardens, 2 restaurants, 2 bathhouses, 1 cafe, 1 museum, 1 viewpoint, 1 shop and 1 neighbourhood. Read the Arashiyama guide.
Good to know
- What is the address of Matsuo Taisha?
- 3 Arashiyama Miyamachi, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto (in Japanese: 京都市西京区嵐山宮町3).
- What are the opening hours of Matsuo Taisha?
- Mon to Sat 9:00 to 16:00; Sun 9:00 to 16:30. These are the hours of the gardens and statue hall. They also stay open to 16:30 on public holidays.
- How do I get to Matsuo Taisha?
- The nearest station is Matsuo-taisha (Hankyu). Matsuo Taisha is in Arashiyama, Kyoto.
- How much does Matsuo Taisha cost?
- Nothing. Matsuo Taisha is free to visit.
- How long do you need at Matsuo Taisha?
- Plan for 1 hour.
- When is the best time to visit Matsuo Taisha?
- Weekday mornings.
Stay near Matsuo Taisha
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