Atago-jinja Shrine (愛宕神社) is a Shinto shrine located in Ukyo Ward, Kyoto City.
It is presently classified as a Beppyo-jinja (special independent shrine) by the Association of Shinto Shrines.
It is the Grand Head Shrine of the approximately 900 Atago-jinja Shrines throughout Japan, and is famous for being difficult to visit because it is located on the highest mountain peak (Mt. Atago) in Kyoto city.
The approach is a 4 km mountain road, it takes about 2.5 hours on one way.
So, you have to make a flexible plan and need to prepare clothes that are comfortable to move around in.
History of Atago-jinja Shrine
This Shinto shrine was a temple called “Hakuun-ji Temple” in the old days.
It is said that Hakuun-ji Temple was founded between 701 – 704 by En-no-Gyoja (役行者), considered to be the founder of Shugendo (mountain ascetism), and Taicho (泰澄), know founder of the sacred site of Mt. Hakusan, before being restored by Keishun Sozu in 781 and constructed by WAKE no Kiyomaro to enshrine Atago Daigongen on Mt. Atago.
Afterwards, the separation of Shinto and Buddhism during the Meiji perod led to the closure of Hakuun-ji Temple and the site became Atago-jinja Shrine.
About Atago-jinja Shrine
Information
| Address | 1, Saga Atagocho, Kyoto Shi Ukyo Ku, Kyoto Fu, 616-8458, Japan |
| Phone | +81-75-861-0658 |
| Foundation | 701 – 704 (Asuka Period) |
| Founder | En-no-Gyoja (役行者) / Taicho (泰澄) |
| Main enshrined deity | Izanami (伊邪那美命) |
Open (Shrine Office)
9:00 – 16:00
Admission Fee
Free
Parking lot
Toll parking space for 50 cars
Other information
・It is information as of July, 2019.
・Please ask temple’s staff where you can take photos and videos.
・Worship method of a shinto shrine and a buddhist temple, please refer to the following article.
Official site
Next, let’s see highlights of this shrine with me!
Highlights of Atago-jinja Shrine
【Kiyotaki Route / front approach】
- 一の鳥居(Ichi-no-torii Gate)
- 二の鳥居(Ni-no-torii Gate)
- 案内看板(Signboard)
- ケーブルカー跡(Trace of the cable car)
- 水汲み場(Natural water place)
- 火燧権現跡(Hiuchigongen Shrine Ruins)
- 壺割坂(Tsubowarizaka Slope)
- 一文字屋跡(Ichimonjiya Ruins)
- 茶屋跡の休息所(Rest space)
- 茶屋跡(Tea House Ruins)
- 五合目休息所／水口屋跡(Rest Space / Minakuchiya Inn Ruins)
- 大杉大神(Osugi Okami)
- カワラケ投げ跡(Throw ‘Kawarake’)
- 水尾わかれ休息所(Mizuowakare Rest Space)
- 花売り場(Shikimi-Flower Stand)
- 黒門(Kuro-mon Gate)
- 社務所(Shrine Office)
- 慶俊社／好庵社(Kyoshun-sha / Koan-sha Shrine)
- 鉄鳥居(Iron Torii Gate)
- 稲荷社(Inari-sha Shrine)
- 神門(Shin-mon Gate)
- 手水舎(Chozu-sha)
- 本殿(Hon-den Hall)
- 若宮社(Wakamiya-sha Shrine)
- 奥宮社(Okumiya-sha Shrine)
- 神明社／熊野社(Shinmei-sha / Kumano-sha Shrine)
- 白髭社(Shirahige-sha Shrine)
Kiyotaki Route / front approach
一の鳥居(Ichi-no-torii Gate)
二の鳥居(Ni-no-torii Gate)
案内看板(Signboard)
The front approach is a mountain road of about 4km one way and it takes about 2.5 hours on foot.
So let’s start climbing in the morning!
Also, there are no vending machines and toilets along this mountain path.
ケーブルカー跡(Trace of the cable car)
水汲み場(Natural water place)
火燧権現跡(Hiuchigongen Shrine Ruins)
壺割坂(Tsubowarizaka Slope)
一文字屋跡(Ichimonjiya Ruins)
茶屋跡の休息所(Rest space)
茶屋跡(Tea House Ruins)
五合目休息所／水口屋跡(Rest Space / Minakuchiya Inn Ruins)
大杉大神跡(Osugi Okami Ruins)
カワラケ投げ跡(Throw ‘Kawarake’)
水尾わかれ休息所(Mizuowakare Rest Space)
花売り場(Shikimi-Flower Stand)
黒門(Kuro-mon Gate)
Precincts
社務所(Shrine Office)
There are a vending machines, toilets, and public telephones in the shrine office.
慶俊社／好庵社(Kyoshun-sha / Koan-sha Shrine)
The right hand side is Koan-sha Shrine, enshrined deity is Koan Nakagawa who contributed to the rehabilitation of the Shrine.
The left hand side is Keishun-sha Shrine, enshrined deity is Keishun Sozu who is one of the founder of this Shinto shrine.
鉄鳥居(Iron Torii Gate)
稲荷社(Inari-sha Shrine)
Enshrined deity is Inari Okami who is the main enshrined deity of the Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine.
神門(Shin-mon Gate)
手水舎(Chozu-sha)
It is an area within the precinct of a Shinto shrine or Buddhist temple at which worshippers wash their hands and mouths.
本殿(Hon-den Hall)
It was rebuilt in 1836 during the Edo period and was greatly renovated during the Showa period.
The main enshrined deity is Izanami.
若宮社(Wakamiya-sha Shrine)
The main enshrined deity is Kagu-tsuchi.
奥宮社(Okumiya-sha Shrine)
The main enshrined deity is Okuninushi.
神明社／熊野社(Shinmei-sha / Kumano-sha Shrine)
The right hand side is Kumano-sha Shrine, enshrined deity is Izanagi who is the main enshrined deity of Kumano-Hongu-Taisha Shrine.
The left hand side is Shinmei-sha Shrine, enshrined deity is Amaterasu who is the main enshrined deity of Ise-jingu Shrine.
白髭社(Shirahige-sha Shrine)
Enshrined deity is Shirohige (Sarutahiko) Okami who is the main enshrined deity of Shirohige-jinja Shrine.
Video of Atago-jinja Shrine
Photo of Atago-jinja Shrine
Goshuin (Red ink stamp) of Atago-jinja Shrine
How to get to Atago-jinja Shrine
The nearest bus stop is Kyoto Bus Kiyotaki (清滝) bus stop.
We can go from ‘Hankyu Arashiyama Station (阪急嵐山駅前) bus stop’ or ‘Arashiyama Tenryuji-mae (Tenryuji Temple) (Randen Arashiyama Sta.) (嵐山天龍寺前) bus stop’ to Kiyotaki bus stop.
From Osaka Umeda Sta. to Hankyu Arashiyama Sta. (by train)
Timetable and Route Search (train)
1.Get on the Hankyu Kyoto Line from Osaka Umeda Station to Katsura Station and change to the Hankyu Arashiyama Line.
2.Get on the Hankyu Arashiyama Line from Katsura Station to Arashiyama Station.
From Namba Sta. to Hankyu Arashiyama Sta. (by train)
Timetable and Route Search (train)
1.Get on the Osaka Metro Midosuji Line from Namba Station to Umeda Station and change to the Hankyu Kyoto Line.
1.Get on the Hankyu Kyoto Line from Osaka Umeda Station to Katsura Station and change to the Hankyu Arashiyama Line.
2.Get on the Hankyu Arashiyama Line from Katsura Station to Arashiyama Station.
From Kyoto Sta. to Saga-Arashiyama Sta. (by train)
Timetable and Route Search (train)
1.Get on the JR Sagano (Sanin Main) Line from Kyoto Station to Saga-Arashiyama Station.
Get on a bus from Hankyu Arashiyama Sta.
Timetable and Route Search (bus)
Please get on a Kyoto Bus No.62/72/92/94 bound for Kiyotaki at Hankyu Arashiyama Station Bus Stop and get off Kiyotaki Bus Stop.
| Bus Company | Kyoto Bus |
| Routes / Destination | No.62/72/92/94 bound for Kiyotaki |
| Boarding Bus Stop | Hankyu Arashiyama Sta. |
| Alighting Bus Stop | Kiyotaki |
| Fare | 230 yen |
| Time Reguired | 21 min |
Get on a bus from Randen Arashiyama Sta.
Timetable and Route Search (bus)
Please get on a Kyoto Bus No.62/72/92/94 bound for Kiyotaki at Arashiyama Tenryuji-mae (Tenryuji Temple) (Randen Arashiyama Sta.) Bus Stop and get off Kiyotaki Bus Stop.
| Bus Company | Kyoto Bus |
| Routes / Destination | No.62/72/92/94 bound for Kiyotaki |
| Boarding Bus Stop | Arashiyama Tenryuji-mae (Tenryuji Temple) (Randen Arashiyama Sta.) |
| Alighting Bus Stop | Kiyotaki |
| Fare | 230 yen |
| Time Reguired | 17 min |
From Kiyotaki Bus Stop to Kiyotaki Route / Front Approach (on foot).
It’s about 500m (15 minutes) on foot.
Take a taxi
From Kyoto Station：about 5,000 yen (30 minutes)
From Gion-shijo Station：about 4,800 yen (30 minutes)
From Arashiyama Station：about 1,700 yen (10 minutes)
・Let’s show a taxi driver the following phrase.
・If you want to call a taxi, let’s show the following phrase.
・Phone number of taxi dispatch (Around Kyoto Sta. and Gion-shijo Sta.)
・Phone number of taxi dispatch (Around Arashiyama Sta.)
Hotel search & reservation
How did you like it?
Have a nice trip!
