All Reviews of Yasaka Koshindo

While visiting Kyoto’s Higashiyama area, I found Yasaka Koshindo to be a small and very distinctive attraction. The most eye-catching feature is the colorful kukurizaru hanging all around the temple. Clustered together like little ornaments, they’re bright and adorable, and every casual photo captures the atmosphere of Kyoto.

The temple’s official name is Kongoji Yasaka Koshindo. Although it isn’t large, it has a very special atmosphere. The colorful kukurizaru symbolize binding one’s desires and also carry the wish that prayers will come true. Seeing so many of them hanging together really makes you want to stay a little longer.

The surrounding area is part of Higashiyama’s popular walking route, with attractions such as Ninenzaka, Sannenzaka, and Kiyomizu-dera nearby, so they can all be included in the same itinerary. Walking along the traditional streets in a kimono and taking photos with the colorful kukurizaru creates a scene that feels very characteristic of Kyoto.

What I liked most about Yasaka Koshindo was its compact, colorful atmosphere. Although it isn’t a large temple, it leaves a vivid impression. It’s a great place to stop by for photos and experience Kyoto’s traditional culture, and it’s well worth a visit while walking around Higashiyama.

A cute little shrine that's perfect for a quick stop while exploring Kiyomizu-dera! The most eye-catching feature of Yasaka Koshindo is the colorful “wish monkeys” hanging all around the grounds. The individual colorful cloth balls are so bright and cute that you can't help taking photo after photo just standing beside them.

This place also attracts many visitors in kimono who come specifically to take pictures, making the whole scene feel very Kyoto. But whether or not you're wearing a kimono, the colorful balls make a great backdrop for photos. Because it's so popular, the crowds are truly unbelievably huge! If you want a more complete, unobstructed shot, you may need to wait patiently for a while.

When walking around the Kiyomizu-dera area, don't forget to stop by this colorful little spot and take a few cute photos with a Kyoto feel!

Whenever you're strolling through Kyoto's Higashiyama district and come across a small, colorful temple filled with a playful and prayerful atmosphere, you'll know you've arrived at Yasaka Koshindo, a hugely popular photo spot in recent years! As soon as you reach the entrance, your eyes are immediately drawn to the strings packed with brightly colored ball-shaped cloth charms.

This temple, formally named Kongoji, is one of the birthplaces of Japan's Koshin faith. The most eye-catching things upon entering the grounds are the colorful, cute cloth figures shaped like monkeys with their hands and feet bound. These are local prayer charms called kukurizaru. It is said that if you write your wish on one and give up one of your desires, your wish will come true. With countless colorful figures hanging together, they not only look great in photos but also create a soothing and distinctive sense of prayer and ritual.

Although the temple grounds aren't very large, it's conveniently located near Hokan-ji Temple (Yasaka Pagoda), making it an easy stop while walking around the area. The rustic wooden main hall, paired with the multicolored prayer charms, gives this historic temple an entirely different sense of lively energy.

I highly recommend adding Yasaka Koshindo to your itinerary for photos and prayers while exploring Kyoto's Higashiyama district. Not only can you take home a cute prayer monkey charm, but you can also add colorful and unique memories to your trip to the ancient capital!

Although Yasaka Koshindo is not very large, it is full of traditional Kyoto charm. The colorful kukurizaru wish dolls inside the temple are very eye-catching, filling the entire space with warmth and energy. Writing down a wish by hand and praying for peace and good fortune also adds a sense of ceremony to the trip. Stopping by while strolling through the streets of Higashiyama lets you not only enjoy the tranquil atmosphere of the ancient capital, but also take beautiful photos with a distinctly Kyoto feel!