Yasaka Shrine, is a famous shrine in Kyoto ans was founded over 1350 years ago.

Located between Gion District and Higashiyama District, the shrine is often visited by those walking between the two districts.

Long connected with the Kyoto Geisha community centered in the nearby Gion District, Yasaka-jinja Shrine is a bustling, coluorful and pleasant downtown shrine that lies at the heart of much of Kyoto's festive tradition.

Yasaka Shrine is renowned for its summer festival, the Gion Matsuri, celebrated every July. This is one of the most famous festivals in the whole country, and dates back over a thousand years.

Visitors to the festival will see a procession of massive floats and hundreds of participants.

The shrine also becomes busy during the cherry blossom season around early April, as the adjacent Maruyama Park is one of the most famous cherry blossom spots in Kyoto.

Getting There: It's a 5-minute walk from Keihan Railway Gion Shijo Station, an 8-minute walk from Hankyu Railway Kawaramachi Station or a 2-minute walk from City Bus Stop Gion

Admission Fee: FREE

Opening Hours: 24-hours

Importance Rating: 5 - it's definitely worth a look and is full of activity - often busy with local people.

Busyness Rating: 5 - it doesn't get over busy.

Top Tips: The trees which in the grounds cast shade on worshippers at various structures enshrining different spirits. You can hear the frequent ringing of brass bells (to wake up the gods), the clink of 5 or 10 yen coins falling into the collection receptacles, and the loud claps as people finish their prayer petitions.

There are fortune tellers and different vendors throughout the grounds, lending the shrine a festive atmosphere.