Okazaki Shrine
Okazaki, Kyoto
Source: okazakijinja.jp, checked 11 Oct 2026.
Okazaki Shrine was founded in 794 as one of the shrines guarding the four sides of the new capital, the eastern one, which is why it's also called Higashi Tenno. Wild rabbits once lived all over this area, so rabbits are its messengers, and you'll find rabbit guardian statues and a black granite rabbit at the water basin.
Insider tip
People come here to pray for children and safe births, by pouring water over the basin rabbit and rubbing its belly. The parish festival on 16 October brings a children's procession, a children's mikoshi and yu-kagura.
What's on near Okazaki Shrine
Upcoming events within a ten-minute walk of Okazaki Shrine, from the weekly Kyoto events calendar.
Sumitomo Shunsui: 100 Years On
特別展 没後100年記念 住友春翠 －仕合せの住友近代美術コレクション
Time 10:00 to 17:00 (last entry 16:30), closed Mondays (open 23 Nov) and 24 Nov Station Miyanomae-cho bus stop (City Bus 32, 105), 1 min walk
A centenary show for Sumitomo Shunsui, the 15th head of the Sumitomo family, whose collecting laid the museum's foundations, with Japanese and Western paintings and crafts including Monet's Parc Monceau and Fujishima Takeji's Sachi aru asa. Under-18s get in free, and the ticket covers the Bronze Gallery of ancient Chinese bronzes too.
Kurodani Konkai Komyo-ji Autumn Night Viewing
くろ谷 金戒光明寺 秋の特別公開 夜間拝観
Time 17:30 to 20:30 (last entry 20:00) Station Okazaki-michi bus stop (City Bus 32, 203, 204), 10 min walk
Konkai Komyo-ji lights its Goeido hall and the Shiun garden, where the maples reflect in the pond, shows Ito Jakuchu's rooster screens in the great abbot's hall, and lights next-door Eisho-in too (¥1,600 for both). Koto and shinobue players give 20-minute sets at 17:45, 18:30 and 19:30, included in the ticket.
NORITO,S, CC BY-SA 3.0 Ojuya Nembutsu Services at Shinnyo-do
お十夜（十日十夜別事念仏会）
Time 15 Nov: procession 14:00, closing service 17:00 Station Kinrin Shako-mae bus stop (City Bus 5)
For ten nights the main Amida statue is unveiled and a white cord tied to its hand runs out to a post in front of the hall, and touching the cord is said to carry your wish straight to the Buddha. On the last day, 15 Nov, there's a procession of children and monks at 14:00, close-up viewing of the statue from 9:00 and free azuki bean porridge.
KENPEI, CC BY-SA 3.0 Kyoto City Zoo Autumn Night Opening
京都市動物園 秋の夜間開園
Time 10 to 12, 17, 24 and 31 Oct and 7 Nov, open to 20:00 (last entry 19:30) Station Keage (Tozai Line), 7 min walk
On seven autumn days the zoo stays open until 20:00 and is lit after dark, with keeper talks at 17:30, 18:00 and 18:30 and an outdoor film at 19:00 from 12 Oct. Entry is the usual ¥750, free for junior high school students and younger, and gorillas, monkeys and some birds aren't on show at night.
inunami, 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 Okazaki Shrine?
- 51 Okazaki Higashitennocho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto (in Japanese: 京都市左京区岡崎東天王町51番地).
- How do I get to Okazaki Shrine?
- The nearest station is Okazaki-jinja-mae bus stop (City Bus 32, 93, 203, 204). Okazaki Shrine is in Okazaki, Kyoto.
- How much does Okazaki Shrine cost?
- Nothing. Okazaki Shrine is free to visit.
- How long do you need at Okazaki Shrine?
- Plan for 20 min.
- When is the best time to visit Okazaki Shrine?
- Festival day, 16 October.
Stay near Okazaki Shrine
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