Yuki Shrine

Tales of this ancient shrine date back to its founding in 940 during the reign of Emperor Suzaku to protect the northern region of Heian-kyo. This sole shrine is the only one you’ll find on the sacred Mount Kurama, a site steeped in tengu (goblin) legends, from its perch on the path to Kurama-dera Temple. Yuki Shrine is best known for the Kurama Fire Festival, one of Japan's three great fire festivals and one of Kyoto's three unique festivals.

The main hall and worship hall were rebuilt in 1607 by Toyotomi Hideyori. The worship hall, known as a Nihai-den, is divided into two sections with a central passage and is a prime example of Momoyama period architecture, designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan. A walk through the shrine grounds will reveal unique treasures like the rare komainu (guardian dog statue) holding a child, also an Important Cultural Property, and a sacred tree estimated to be 800 years old, standing 53 meters tall as a recognized Kyoto City Natural Monument.

The annual festival on October 22 is the famous Kurama Fire Festival, which reenacts the relocation of the Yuki Daimyojin deity from the Imperial Palace to Kurama. Time your travels right to catch the unforgettable spectacle as the mountain goes all alight with the blaze of torches.