Shrine

Nishiki Tenmangu

Kawaramachi, Kyoto

Address
537 Nakano-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto 〒604-8042 京都市中京区新京極通り四条上る中之町537番地
Hours
Daily
8:00 to 20:00

Source: nishikitenmangu.or.jp, checked 11 Oct 2026.

Rows of paper lanterns on the gate of Nishiki Tenmangu at the end of Nishiki Market
Photo: Roman SUZUKI / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)

Nishiki Tenmangu stands on Shinkyogoku at the east end of Nishikikoji, the street Nishiki Market runs along, and it's the only shrine in the shopping district. It honours Sugawara no Michizane, the god of learning, and moved here in 1587 when Toyotomi Hideyoshi replanned the city. Nishiki-no-mizu, spring water from more than 30 m underground, flows in the small grounds.

More photos of Nishiki Tenmangu

The stone torii of Nishiki Tenmangu over the shopping street, with the shrine lanterns beyond, Kyoto
Photo: Naokijp / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Nearest station Kyoto-Kawaramachi (Hankyu)
Cost Free
Time needed 15 min
Best time Daytime
Free

Insider tip

The reclining cow is a nade-ushi, there to be stroked. At the mechanical omikuji a lion starts to dance as you walk up, and a coin gets it to bring you your fortune. Boil the spring water before you drink it, as the shrine asks.

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What's on near Nishiki Tenmangu

Upcoming events within a ten-minute walk of Nishiki Tenmangu, from the weekly Kyoto events calendar.

Food event

Kamogawa Noryo-yuka Riverside Terraces

鴨川納涼床

1 May to 15 Oct (dates to be confirmed) Riverside restaurants in Kiyamachi, Pontocho and Saiseki, Kawaramachi

Station Sanjo or Gion-Shijo (Keihan Line)

From 1 May the restaurants along the river in Kiyamachi, Pontocho and Saiseki serve on outdoor terraces looking across the Kamogawa to the Higashiyama hills, until 15 October. Some stop at the end of September, and breakfast, lunch and hours vary by restaurant.

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The narrow Pontocho alley in Kyoto lined with restaurants and red plover lanterns Domenico Convertini, CC BY-SA 2.0
Performance Starts in 3 days ¥5,000 to ¥10,000

Pontocho Suimeikai Dance Recital

第111回 水明会

15 to 20 Oct Pontocho Kaburenjo, Kawaramachi

Time 15:30 (doors 15:00) Station Sanjo (Keihan), 5 min walk

Pontocho's geiko have staged this dance recital since 1930, named after the clear water of the Kamo River, with tokiwazu, kiyomoto and nagauta pieces. Reserved seats are ¥10,000 or ¥8,000 and unreserved ones ¥5,000.

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The brick Pontocho Kaburenjo theatre seen from the Kamo River bank, its green tiled roofs above the riverside path Mariemon, CC BY-SA 3.0
Performance ¥4,000 to ¥7,000

Kamogawa Odori

鴨川をどり

5 to 22 May (dates to be confirmed) Pontocho Kaburenjo, Kawaramachi

Time 12:30, 14:20 and 16:10 Station Sanjo (Keihan Line), 5 min walk from exit 6

Pontocho's geiko and maiko in a dance drama and then a set of pure dance, in the 1927 Pontocho Kaburenjo by the river. First staged in 1872, it's been performed more times than any other Kyoto geisha show.

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The brick Pontocho Kaburenjo theatre seen from the Kamo River bank, its green tiled roofs above the riverside path Mariemon, CC BY-SA 3.0
Performance ¥¥¥

Suimei-kai Recital of Pontocho

水明会（先斗町）

15 to 20 Oct (dates to be confirmed) Pontocho Kaburenjo, Kawaramachi

Time 15:30 (doors 15:00) Station Sanjo (Keihan), 5 min walk

Pontocho's geiko recital, held since 1930 and named after the clear water of the Kamo River. Reserved seats were ¥10,000 and ¥8,000 and unreserved ones ¥5,000 in 2026.

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The brick Pontocho Kaburenjo theatre seen from the Kamo River bank, its green tiled roofs above the riverside path Mariemon, CC BY-SA 3.0
Performance ¥6,000 to ¥28,000

Kaomise Kabuki at Minamiza

京の年中行事 當る未歳 吉例顔見世興行 東西合同大歌舞伎

1 to 24 Dec Minamiza, Gion

Time Matinee 10:30, evening 16:00 Station Gion-Shijo (Keihan), exit 6, 1 min walk

Kyoto's December kabuki brings star actors from Tokyo and Kansai together at Minamiza, a custom from the Edo era, when each theatre showed off its new company for the year. Tickets go on sale on 9 Nov, there are no shows on 9 and 17 Dec, and a few sessions are privately booked.

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The facade of the Minamiza kabuki theatre hung with actor signboards and a red lantern kajikawa, CC BY 3.0

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Nearby

Teramachi and Shinkyogoku Arcades Shopping · 2 min walk Shinkyogoku was cut through old temple grounds in 1872 and runs from Sanjo to Shijo, with Teramachi parallel one street west. Nishiki Market Market · 2 min walk Nishiki Market is a 390 m covered lane of food shops just north of Shijo-dori, and it's been trading for about 400 years. Kyoto Takashimaya Shopping · 3 min walk Kyoto Takashimaya is the department store on the Shijo-Kawaramachi crossing, next to Kyoto-Kawaramachi Station, together with its T8 specialty... Seigan-ji Temple · 3 min walk Seigan-ji, halfway along Shinkyogoku, is the head temple of the Jodo Seizan Fukakusa school, founded more than 1,300 years ago at Emperor Tenji's... Kiyamachi-dori Neighbourhood · 3 min walk Kiyamachi-dori follows the Takase canal, which Suminokura Ryoi dug in the 1610s so flat-bottomed boats could carry freight between central Kyoto and... Kaneyo Food · 4 min walk Kaneyo has grilled eel on Rokkaku-dori, just east of Shinkyogoku, since 1912, in a building from the early Taisho years that lost its third floor to...

Around Kawaramachi

Downtown Kyoto, between Nishiki Market and the Kamo River

Kawaramachi is downtown Kyoto, the shopping streets round the Shijo-Kawaramachi crossing. The Teramachi and Shinkyogoku Arcades run north from Shijo-dori, Nishiki Market runs west from them, and east of Kawaramachi-dori the Takase canal and Pontocho squeeze in before the Kamo River. You'll come here to eat, mostly. Some of the tea, incense and paper shops date from the Edo period.

Kawaramachi has 26 places on the Roam Kyoto map: 5 shops, 4 cafes, 4 restaurants, 3 shrines and temples, 3 landmarks, 2 bars, 2 neighbourhoods, 1 park or garden, 1 market and 1 bathhouse. Read the Kawaramachi guide.

Good to know

What is the address of Nishiki Tenmangu?
537 Nakano-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto (in Japanese: 京都市中京区新京極通り四条上る中之町537番地).
What are the opening hours of Nishiki Tenmangu?
Daily 8:00 to 20:00.
How do I get to Nishiki Tenmangu?
The nearest station is Kyoto-Kawaramachi (Hankyu). Nishiki Tenmangu is in Kawaramachi, Kyoto.
How much does Nishiki Tenmangu cost?
Nothing. Nishiki Tenmangu is free to visit.
How long do you need at Nishiki Tenmangu?
Plan for 15 min.
When is the best time to visit Nishiki Tenmangu?
Daytime.

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