Yoshida Shrine
Ginkakuji, Kyoto
Source: yoshidajinja.com, checked 11 Oct 2026.
Founded in 859 to protect the capital, Yoshida Shrine sits on the hill of Kagura-oka, up the street from Kyoto University's main gate. The Daigen-gu hall, an Important Cultural Property, enshrines the gods of every shrine in Japan, and there are small shrines to the god of cooking and the god of sweets. It's busiest at Setsubun, 2 to 4 February, when about 500,000 people come and around 800 stalls line the approaches.
Insider tip
On the afternoon of 2 February the tsuina-shiki drives out demons, led by a figure in a golden four-eyed mask with a crowd of children. On the 3rd, old charms are burned in a huge fire in front of the third torii. Walk from Kyodai-seimon-mae bus stop (5 minutes) or Demachiyanagi Station (about 20). The parking on the grounds is closed during Setsubun, so come by bus or train.
What's on at Yoshida Shrine
Upcoming events at Yoshida Shrine and within a ten-minute walk, from the weekly Kyoto events calendar.
Kaso Shrine Autumn Festival at Yoshida Shrine
菓祖神社 秋季大祭（吉田神社）
Time 11:00
Autumn festival at the Kaso Shrine inside Yoshida Shrine, listed on the shrine's 2026 ritual schedule. Entry to the shrine is free.
Saigen Jiro, CC0 1.0 Imamiya-sha Hitaki-sai at Yoshida Shrine
今宮社 火焚祭（吉田神社）
Time 9:00
Fire-offering rite at the Imamiya-sha sub-shrine inside Yoshida Shrine, listed on the shrine's 2026 ritual schedule. Entry to the shrine is free.
Saigen Jiro, CC0 1.0 Setsubun Festival at Yoshida Shrine
節分祭（吉田神社）
Time Demon-chasing rite on the 2nd, fire festival on the 3rd Station Kyodai-seimon-mae bus stop (City Bus 201, 206)
About 500,000 people come over the three days, and about 800 stalls line the grounds on the 2nd and 3rd. On the 2nd a figure in a golden four-eyed mask chases red, blue and yellow demons round the dance stage in a Heian court rite, and on the 3rd old charms burn in a fire pit 4 m across.
Saigen Jiro, CC0 1.0 Kyoto University November Festival (NF)
京都大学 11月祭(NF)
Station Hyakumanben (City Bus) or Demachiyanagi (Keihan)
The 68th Kyoto University November Festival fills the Yoshida campus from Friday 20 to Monday 23 November 2026.
Kyoto's Chemistry: Institute for Chemical Research 100th Anniversary Exhibition
2026年度特別展 京都大学化学研究所創立100周年記念「京都の化学 化研の歴史」
Time 9:30 to 16:30 (last entry 16:00). Closed Mondays and Tuesdays, Dec 28 to Jan 4 Station Demachiyanagi (Keihan), about 20 min walk
Special exhibition on the history of Kyoto University's Institute for Chemical Research, in the South Building.
J o, CC BY-SA 3.0 Smaller local events nearby
Niiname-sai at Yoshida Shrine Festival
Mon 23 Nov · Yoshida Shrine, Ginkakuji
Yoshida Shrine lists the Niiname-sai harvest thanksgiving rite on 23 November in the main hall. Entry to the shrine is free.
Free · Map · Source: Yoshida Shrine · 新嘗祭（吉田神社）
Year-End Purification and Joya-sai at Yoshida Shrine Festival
Thu 31 Dec · Yoshida Shrine, Ginkakuji
Yoshida Shrine lists a year-end purification at 15:00 and the New Year's Eve rite at 16:00 on 31 December. Entry to the shrine is free.
Free · Map · Source: Yoshida Shrine · 師走大祓・除夜祭（吉田神社）
Nearby
Around Ginkakuji
Temple gardens along a canal path, under the Daimonji hill
Get to Ginkaku-ji for its 8:30 opening, because the temple fills up as the day goes on. Then walk south on the Philosopher's Path, about 1.8 km of stone path beside a branch of the Lake Biwa Canal, and turn off it for the temples on either side. Honen-in's grounds open at 6:00, and you don't pay to go in.
Ginkakuji has 15 places on the Roam Kyoto map: 7 shrines and temples, 2 museums, 2 restaurants, 1 viewpoint, 1 shop, 1 neighbourhood and 1 bathhouse. Read the Ginkakuji guide.
Good to know
- What is the address of Yoshida Shrine?
- 30 Yoshida Kaguraoka-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto (in Japanese: 京都市左京区吉田神楽岡町30).
- How do I get to Yoshida Shrine?
- The nearest station is Kyodai-seimon-mae bus stop (City Bus 201, 206). Yoshida Shrine is in Ginkakuji, Kyoto.
- How much does Yoshida Shrine cost?
- Nothing. Yoshida Shrine is free to visit.
- How long do you need at Yoshida Shrine?
- Plan for 30 min.
- When is the best time to visit Yoshida Shrine?
- Setsubun, 2 to 4 February.
Stay near Yoshida Shrine
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