Kumano Shrine
Okazaki, Kyoto
1 Jan to 15 Feb
- Daily
- 7:00 to 17:00
Rest of the year
- Daily
- 7:00 to 16:00
Hours are for the gate. The amulet counter opens at 9:00.
Source: ja.kyoto.travel, checked 11 Oct 2026.
Kumano Shrine was founded in 811, when the mountain ascetic Nichien brought the Kumano deity here from Kishu, and it's the oldest of Kyoto's three Kumano shrines. It's also the guardian shrine of Shogo-in.
Insider tip
At Setsubun in early February crowds come for its fire-prevention charms. The Shinko-sai procession is on 29 April and the fire festival on 20 November.
What's on near Kumano Shrine
Upcoming events within a ten-minute walk of Kumano Shrine, from the weekly Kyoto events calendar.
Setsubun at Shogo-in
聖護院節分会
Time 9:00 to about 19:30, demon rite 13:00 on the 3rd Station Jingu-Marutamachi (Keihan Oto Line)
The Shinden hall, normally closed, opens free for the two days. On the 3rd mountain ascetics talk the demons round instead of chasing them out, and a big outdoor goma fire follows at 15:00.
663highland, CC BY-SA 4.0 Setsubun at Heian Jingu
節分行事（平安神宮）
Time Kyogen 12:00, rite 14:00, bonfire from about 15:30 Station Okazaki Koen Bijutsukan Heian-jingu-mae bus stop (City Bus 5), 5 min walk
A Heian court demon-expelling rite at 14:00, then the demons come back through the Otenmon gate to dance, beans are thrown, and about 40,000 prayer sticks go on a bonfire. A free Okura school kyogen play opens the afternoon at 12:00.
Manish Prabhune, CC BY 2.0 Kyoto Marathon 2027
京都マラソン2027
Time Wheelchair race from 8:55, marathon from 9:00, course closes at 15:00 Station Higashiyama (Tozai Line), 10 min walk to the finish at Heian Jingu
About 16,000 runners set off from Takebishi Stadium at 9:00 and finish in front of Heian Jingu, passing near seven World Heritage sites on the way, Kinkaku-ji, Kamigamo and Ginkaku-ji among them. Roads along the course close for hours, so plan your sightseeing around it.
Manish Prabhune, CC BY 2.0 Heian Jingu Annual Festival
例祭・例祭翌日祭（平安神宮）
Time From 10:00 Station Okazaki Koen Bijutsukan Heian-jingu-mae bus stop (City Bus 5), 5 min walk
The shrine's main festival on 15 April, and on the 16th a stage in front of the Daigokuden hall has kagura, bugaku court dance and dances by geiko and maiko. Free to watch.
Manish Prabhune, CC BY 2.0 Takigi Noh at Heian Shrine
薪能（平安神宮）
Time Evenings Station Higashiyama (Tozai Line), 10 min walk
Noh performed by firelight at Heian Shrine on the evenings of 1 and 2 June. In rain it moves indoors to the main hall of ROHM Theatre Kyoto, as the second night did in 2026, and the shrine garden stops taking visitors at 17:20 on both days.
Manish Prabhune, CC BY 2.0 Nearby
Around Okazaki
Art museums, Meiji gardens and Nanzen-ji along the Lake Biwa Canal
Okazaki is Kyoto's museum quarter. Two art museums sit either side of the approach to Heian Shrine, by its giant torii, and the zoo, a crafts museum and ROHM Theatre Kyoto are a few minutes away round Okazaki Park. Follow the Lake Biwa Canal east and you're at Nanzen-ji, with Eikan-do and Murin-an a short walk from its gate.
Okazaki has 27 places on the Roam Kyoto map: 9 shrines and temples, 6 museums, 4 restaurants, 2 cafes, 2 shops, 2 landmarks and 2 parks and gardens. Read the Okazaki guide.
Good to know
- What is the address of Kumano Shrine?
- 43 Shogoin Sannocho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto (in Japanese: 京都市左京区聖護院山王町43).
- What are the opening hours of Kumano Shrine?
- 1 Jan to 15 Feb: Daily 7:00 to 17:00. Rest of the year: Daily 7:00 to 16:00. Hours are for the gate. The amulet counter opens at 9:00.
- How do I get to Kumano Shrine?
- The nearest station is Jingu-Marutamachi (Keihan). Kumano Shrine is in Okazaki, Kyoto.
- How much does Kumano Shrine cost?
- Nothing. Kumano Shrine is free to visit.
- How long do you need at Kumano Shrine?
- Plan for 15 min.
- When is the best time to visit Kumano Shrine?
- Setsubun, early February.
Stay near Kumano Shrine
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