Kitano Tenmangu is a beautiful Shinto shrine in northwest Kyoto, in the Kamigyo Ward.
It was established in 947 and it enshrines Sugawara no Michizane, a prominent politician and scholar of the middle Heian Period (794 - 1185).
The main shrine and the Sankomon and Romon Gates were built in 1607 and are designated National Treasures of Japan.
The Shrine is highly popular in Spring due to its superb Plum Grove and even more popular in autumn for its spectacular Maple Tree Garden (350 trees).
Opening times and admission
Open daily from 9 am to 5 pm.
Admission is free for the Shrine, 1200 Yen for the Plum (Ume) Grove and 1000 Yen for the Maple Garden.
How to get there
From Kyoto Station, you have a few public transport options to choose from:
The 50 City Bus to Kitano Tenmangu-mae station (22 stops, 33 minutes, 230 yen)
The 6 City Bus to Senbon Imadegawa (15 stops, 30 minutes, 230 yen) then walk for around 8 minutes
The Karasuma Line to Imadegawa Station (5 stops, 10 minutes) then take the 203 City Bus to Kitano Tenmangu-mae Station (7 stops, 11 minutes, 490 yen in total)
Address: Bakurocho, Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto, 602-8386, Japan
I added the Kitano Tenmangu Shrine to my itinerary between visiting Arashiyama Bamboo Grove and Kinkakuji. Because of this, I did not have enough time to visit the beautiful plum grove as well as the shrine grounds.
From Arashiyama, I took the San-In line to Emmachi Station, then walked for about 25 minutes to reach the Shrine.
On the 25th of each month, from 6 am to sunset, Kitano Tenmangu Shrine hosts the 'Tenjin-san Festival' - a popular street/flea market.
I missed the opportunity to see what types of items are for sale or what delicious street food is on offer, so this one is on my list for the next time I'm in Kyoto.
If you have been there, please let me know in the comments below what to expect.
On the 25th, while the flea market is taking place, the Shrine Museum is also open.
Here you can see various items offered to the shrine throughout the centuries by the nobles and the imperial family - scrolls, paintings and tea ceremony objects.
Entry is 1000 yen for adults and half price for children.
The shrine grounds take quite a bit of time to cover, so, if you're like me and want to admire every building, torii, sculpture, painting or lantern, then please reserve a couple of hours for this visit.
Have you ever been to Kitano Tenmangu Shrine? If so, I would love to hear about your experience, in the comments below.
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I hope life is treating you well.
Take care.
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